CTI Honors “Blog Father” Dick Howe

October 25, 2013 by Marie Posted in Uncategorized 8 Comments

Last Wednesday the founder of this blog Dick Howe – widely known these days as the  “blog father” – was honored by Community Teamwork at the 2013 Community Action Awards ~ Special Tribute to Innovative Communicators.

CTI Board President Germaine Vigeant-Trudel offered these words about Dick Howe as she presented the 2013 President’s Award:

We are here this evening to celebrate and pay special TRIBUTE TO INNOVATIVE COMMUNICATORS.

And it is my honor and pleasure to present this year’s PRESIDENT’s AWARD to Register of Deeds-Richard P. Howe, Jr., Dick was elected Register of Deeds of the Northern District of Middlesex County in 1994, immediately becoming a leader in the use of computers in registries of deeds in Massachusetts.  Since becoming Register of Deeds, his office has scanned more than 10 million pages of land records, making every document recorded from 1629 to the present freely available on the office website – quite an undertaking to say the least.

With every record scanned, all books were taken out of service, making Northern Middlesex the first paperless registry in Massachusetts.  He is also the co-author of the Northern Middlesex Registry of Deeds blog.

Outside of the Registry of Deeds, Dick Howe is a longtime community activist and passionate communicator – he’s the author of a local history book entitled “LEGENDARY LOCALS” and is the creator and co-author of richardhowe.com, a local blog focused on Lowell politics and history.  Dick along with his fellow bloggers – several of whom are here this evening (Paul Marion and CTI Board member Marie Sweeney) together their postings provide readers with cultural updates, poetry, photography, and my favorite – trips down memory lane.

 For those who are interested in the Real Estate market – Dick posts house sales on a weekly basis. Well-known for his commitment to the use of new technology and social media to promote community and civic communication, Dick is an active member and past president of LTC – providing local public access television.  In his role as an educator in communications technology, Dick facilitates workshops, discussions and panels and will host blogger-meet ups and exchanges.

Dick has been a good friend of CTI – this past January he facilitated our Board Retreat and kept us focused on our mission and branding which you will hear more about a little later.

An avid history buff, Dick is very involved in the Greater Lowell historical community, giving frequent tours and lectures of Lowell and the American Civil War.  He also serves as the official tour guide of the Lowell Cemetery – a very popular event attended by nearly 300 people this fall.

Dick holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Providence College; a Master’s Degree in History from Salem State and a JD from Suffolk Law School.  From 1980-1984 he served as an Intelligence Officer in the United States Army.  He is a life-long resident of Lowell where he currently lives with his wife Roxanne and son Andrew is a fourth year student in college.

Please join me in welcoming CTI’s 2013 President’s Award recipient – Register Richard P. Howe, Jr.

8 Responses to CTI Honors “Blog Father” Dick Howe

  1. Mr. Lynne says:

    I think it was Jack that originally coined the term “blogfather”. I’d point out (at least its my understanding) that Lynne actually hit the blogging scene first and the blogfather himself came to her on getting started. Of course he reciprocated by getting her into Twitter later.

  2. Marie says:

    Mr. Lynne – Credit to Jack! No disrespect meant to Lynne – the approbation was up on the screen… so I used it. CTI also gave a certificate of recognition to Left in Lowell – Mimi accepted it on behalf of LiL. If Lynne wants to be called “blogmother” – so be it… Congratulations to Left in Lowell!

  4. Jack Mitchell says:

    The reason I dubbed Dick “Blogfather” was because of his sense of stewardship over the local blogscape. I can think of no other, that has made such effort to rally bloggers together, foster a mutual appreciation for each other and promote the vision of new media bringing a ‘flavor to current happenings’ devoid of the tinges of ‘pay-to-play’ legacy media.

    I cut my teeth blogging in NH, during the 2007 POTUS Primary. I landed in the Lowell scene, soon after, leaving comments here and there. Left in Lowell gave me a home and a soapbox. Dick Howe, Jr. gave me a sense of purpose (even if I make him cringe, from time to time).

    In the Infantry, we say, “Lead, Follow or Get Out of the Way.” Dick leads by example.

  6. Fred Bahou says:

    Congratulations Dick! I’m glad your efforts are being noticed, I realize you’re a humble person, but we should all give you credit for being a strong city leader.