William H. “Bill” Howe, publisher emeritus of the (Prairie du Chien) Courier Press and 2018 inductee to the Wisconsin Newspaper Hall of Fame, died Friday, July 22, at the age of 99.
He was born April 6, 1923, the son of Lyman J. and Eliese B. Howe.
As the third of five generations of Howes who owned and published the Courier Press, Bill joined the family business in 1946. He and his brother Lyman “Jack” Howe — also a Wisconsin Newspaper Hall of Fame inductee — led the Courier until retiring in 1997. After 108 years of publishing under the Howe family name, Bill’s son Gary sold the newspaper in 2019 to Morris Newspaper Corporation of Wisconsin.
In 2018, Bill was inducted into the Wisconsin Newspaper Hall of Fame on Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018, at The Madison Club in downtown Madison.
“Bill has lived all of his 95 years understanding the newspaper business to be his family’s tradition and commitment to Prairie du Chien and the surrounding communities,” Courier Press associate editor Correne Martin wrote at the time of his nomination.
“When I think of Wisconsin newspapers and the relentless, hard-nosed people who publish them, Bill’s dedication to the Courier Press and the industry is as unwavering and thorough as could exist.”
From typesetting and delivering newspapers to selling advertising, operating the press and serving as editor, Bill wore many hats during his career. Above all else, he was known for his dedication to the newspaper and community, which made Howe a trusted confidant of local mayors and public officials.
He was a member of the Prairie du Chien Historical Society for the past 10 years and received the special President’s Award from the Prairie du Chien Area Chamber of Commerce in 1991. In 2007, he was one of only a few residents to be designated the prestigious Prairie du Chien Citizen Laureate.
During his career, Bill also co-owned The Guttenberg (Iowa) Press and North Iowa Times in McGregor, Iowa.
Bill is survived by his wife of 30 years, Donna Kinley, three children, two stepchildren,11 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
