“I’d like to have a look in at my Dad’s office, if that’s okay.” The venerable Linwood A. Howe stood in front of the Culver City elementary school named after his father, Linwood E. Howe, and took stock of the family’s legacy in brick and steel.
On Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2022, Linwood Albert Howe was visiting Culver City from his current home in North Carolina, guided by his goddaughter, Stacey Horn-Bostel. The family has a long history in Culver City, and an illustrious past with local education.
The elder Howe, Linwood E. Howe, Jr., had been the principal at what was then Washington Elementary (now Echo Horizon School) on the east side of town, when he was asked to take over at Betsy Ross Elementary School (now Turning Point School) on the west side of the city. Having all that under his belt, Superintendent Patton requested that he take on a bigger project; the full rebuild of the elementary downtown.
“The original school was across the street – Braddock used to come right on through here. The playground was on the other side, so what they had to do was flip the school to where the playground was, and put up the new school where the playground used to be.”
It was Howe’s first trip back to Culver City to visit family since 2015, when he left for the east coast. He was pleased that the school was still thriving after all these years, and was still very proud of all that his father had accomplished.
“The last time I saw him, I was just shipping out for Vietnam. He had come to say goodbye, and then [he had a heart attack] at his office, and rather than take him to Brotman [Hospital], they took him to the doctor’s office, but it was too late.”
The district honored his work by naming the school after him.
Howe spoke warmly of his father’s prowess at football, his accomplishments at CCUSD, and the many friends that he had grown up with in Culver City, including Del Goodyear and Bill Pett. “He was a great guy.”
Just as the school day was coming to an end and students were beginning to move out to the hallways, Howe came into the offices where his father had worked, spoke with the staff, and got an unexpected gift; a Vikings t-shirt. With a smile he departed with Stacy, waving towards the building where his family name adorns the front entrance.
Judith Martin-Straw
Photo credit- Karim Sahli
The complete interview will be featured on our new podcast CulverChat -release date TBA.
I love history and I loved this story! And I’ve no doubt that Uncle Lin (as Stacey calls him) enjoyed this adventure so much, before he headed back to North Carolina. ♡ Thanks so much Judith!
I was a student at Culver Elementary when Mr Howe passed away I remember it well I was in the be 3rd grade my Teacher was Ms Donken
I was in the 4th. Grade, I don’t remember my teachers name though Mrs. Donken was most memorable for 3rd. grade. I recall the class council purchasing a tree for dedication to Mr. Howe My father went to Vietnam that same year. Living proximal to Desi-Lu Studios & the Baldwin hills made for a wonderful time in the latter half of the 1960’s
I KNEW MR.HOWE IN SEPT.1962 & ALSO VICTOR FERRAGAMO OF BETSY ROSS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL,HIS DAUTHER LESLIE ATTENDED CULVER ELEMENTARY WHEN MR.HOWE WAS SCHOOL PRINCIPAL THERE.RON EXLEY WAS THERE TOO WITH MR.HOWE!