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Clarence Ray Howard
April 3, 1947- June 4, 2008
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CLARENCE RAY HOWARD was born on
April 3, 1947 in Shreveport, Louisiana to
Thelma Myles and Herbert Howard.
Clarence entered into the United States
Army in September, 1966 where he served
two terms in Vietnam and earned a Purple
Heart medal for his bravery. Upon his
honorable discharge in December, 1973,
Clarence immediately joined the Army
Reserve where he was assigned to the 312th
Personnel Services Company at Fort
McArthur, California as a Specialist 4. He
moved up the ranks and within 19 years, he
achieved the rank of E9 Command Sergeant
Major, which is the highest rank achievable
for an enlisted soldier. He retired in 1999
with 36 years of service.
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Clarence worked for the U.S. Department of
Veterans’ Affairs in the positions of Veterans’
Benefit Counselor, Vocational Rehabilitation
Counselor and Career Development
Coordinator for 14 years. Upon retiring from
civil service, Clarence embarked upon an
entrepreneurial career that included a billing
and collections corporation, travel agency,
limousine service, business development, non-
profit organizations and property management.
His credentials include degrees and
certifications from Los Angeles Trade Technical
College, University of Redlands, University of
Southern California and University of California
Los Angeles in the areas of Building Inspection
Technology, Business Management, Counseling
in Psychology, Vocational Rehabilitation, to
name a few.
Clarence served on the boards of numerous
non-profit organizations, including the Compton
Chamber of Commerce where he was the
Executive Director. He was actively involved in
BAPAC. He served as President of Lennox Little
League, Vice President of Hawthorne Junior All
American Football League and President of the
Father’s Board at St. Mary’s Academy in
Inglewood, California
Clarence was devoted to his family and had a
genuine concern for the welfare of everyone
that he met. He always put the interests of
others ahead of his own and he was ‘on call’
24/7 for anyone who needed him. He will be
greatly missed.
Clarence departed this life on June 4, 2008. He
leaves to cherish his memory: Sheri, his wife of
36 years, two daughters, Melissa Smith (Arthur),
and La Teisha Lawton (Kareem), two sons,
Michael Laudermill (La Tasha), and Reginald
Laudermill (Xenis); and a host of extended
family and friends.
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