A fiery, explosive temper lies under the calm waters of his usual personality. He is not quick to budge his rigid boundaries, especially with strangers. While he likes to think he is a gentle man, the realities of his snippy nature with acquaintances reveals otherwise. He is still a very uxorious man, though.

Howard was born in a small yet rich family located in a small hovel town near Fredericksburg, Texas.

He was considered an accidental child, both in conception and later on with his disability becoming a prominent force in his life. While his family did get him the care he needed nearby, he always lived in the spotlight of his older siblings.

Despite his family having influence in their town, Howard was sort of outcast from his peers, namely due to his bookish nature and inability to be physically active. Any friends he had only hung around him due to his family's influence and due to his car he was allowed to borrow.

He was thrilled when Barbara noticed him, in spite of her soon soured reputation. At least Barbara saw him for who he was and not what he owned.

The couple eventually eloped once they turned eighteen, and moved to the West Coast, getting occasional financial support from one of his relatives in the area.

During WWII, he signed up for a volunteering clerical position in the army. While he was never promoted, as he was not formally in the military, he still received post-war benefits. He and his wife were able to move into a house shortly after the war came to an end.

At some point, he goes to college for a degree in theology, simply because he could.