Cecil David Howard was born in Lawton, Oklahoma on September 16, 1952. He was adopted into a loving family by Benjamin and Florence Howard and brother, Eddie Howard.

After graduating from high school, he attended one year of college. Even though he was offered a full scholarship in the area of music, he decided instead to join the Army.  He married his wife of 44 years, Donna (Martin) Howard, on December 29, 1972, and left for basic training in January of 1973.

While in the Army, he was quickly promoted to the rank of Staff Sargent and did 2 tours of duty in West Germany. During his second tour of duty in Germany, he was injured in a training exercise, sent to Brooke Army Hospital in San Antonio, TX , for treatment and subsequently medically retired from the service.  This was a low point in his life, as he was a proud soldier who loved his country and his time in the service.

He returned to college and eventually began counseling in the area of drug and alcohol abuse at Parkside Hospital in Katy, TX.   While there, he bought his first boat, went to school, earned a Captain's license, and began his fishing guide service.  The next major change in his life came when he decided to guide full-time.  His 15 years of guiding in the Galveston and Matagorda Bays were among the happiest years. Those years were ended by a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis.  Once again, he was forced to lose a career he loved passionately.

The last years of Cecil's life were spent fishing near his home in Cypress, Texas in the many ponds and lakes near his home in Bridgeland. He also loved to hunt and was a collector of firearms.  He was awarded a sharp shooter medal while in the service, and regularly went to fire his guns at local gun ranges.

Cecil was the ultimate outdoorsman who loved his God, his wife, his two beautiful daughters, and his grandchildren. He was filled with joy at the birth of each new baby into his family.  He also loved his country passionately.  His last days were spent at home listening to Christian music.  He also dreamed about, and even planned, to be able to hunt one last season…but in his heart, he knew it wasn't to be.