Tony Howell’s plans for his upcoming retirement after 42 years with Linn County’s Alcohol & Drug program is a version of a popular restaurant menu item – surf and turf – although in his case, it means time spent whitewater rafting and working in his garden, not prawns and prime rib.
The 69-year-old’s new adventure will begin Jan. 1.
The best part of his four-plus decades with the county has been the “people,” he said. “And by the people, I mean our clients and our staff. I’ve seen individuals and even second generations of families get better and learn to use tools to overcome their addictions. And our staff, which is so respectful and engaging with our clients, providing them with motivation to keep them coming back for help.”
A Culver City, Calif., native, Howell enrolled at UCLA in 1971 after graduating from Loyola High School. Although he considered a future in the medical field, he soon found himself drawn to education, and he majored in psychology. He recalled that he wanted to “get out of the big city,” so he ventured north to the mid-valley, where a friend’s sister then lived in Salem. His first jobs were with the Plaid Pantry market chain, with stores in Salem and Albany.
“But I also volunteered at the Sunflower House (which helped young people with drug issues) and that got me interested in counseling,” Howell said.
His first position with Linn County was part-time at the detoxification program in the old hospital building at Seventh Avenue and Ellsworth Street in Albany. The job soon grew into full-time work on mostly overnight shifts. Then, in the late 1970s, the county closed the detox and residential program and moved the outpatient program into the Old Armory Building at 104 S.W. Fourth Ave. in Albany. (The department remains on the second floor today.)
After a few years, Howell took time away from Linn County to earn a master’s degree in social work at the University of Michigan.
“Portland State was just starting a Master’s program and Michigan’s program was well established,” he explained, admitting he enjoyed the university and community, but not the brutal winter weather.
“It was nice that a friend from grade school was there, so we shared a house,” Howell said. “I enjoyed a lot of the cultural activities of the area and I have relatives in Minnesota, so I got to see them when I was coming and going.”
In the summer, he worked at a camp for emotionally disturbed children and was offered a full-time position, but when an opening appeared in Linn County’s outpatient treatment program, he returned to the mid-valley. He was named director of the county’s Alcohol & Addiction program in 2001.
“Linn County is such a good place to work and our program is so good,” Howell said. “Both the Board of Commissioners and the Health Department have been great to work for. We have been able to do a lot of innovative work.”
He said the A & D program works well with Mental Health, the social services outreach and Linn County Sheriff’s Office.
A & D works with about 700 individuals per year, with about 120 youth, on issues from alcohol and drug addictions to problem gambling. Howell is especially proud of the prevention services, including an effective curriculum for students in the fourth and sixth grades within all seven school districts in the county.
“It’s a research-based prevention program,” he said. “Statistics show that addiction is lower the longer we can delay someone’s first use.”
According to Howell, alcohol abuse was a major issue when he first started with the county. However, methamphetamines have been a major issue for many years since.
“Opiates are up there,” Howell said.
Howell and his wife, Patricia Benner, a retired river ecologist, live in Corvallis. The two met on a whitewater rafting trip on the Rogue River, organized by prior program manager Betty Griffiths, and were later married on the Rogue. They’ve especially enjoyed rafting trips on the Salmon and Snake Rivers – and the Grand Canyon.
They also have a long-term project: restoring the historical home of Hannah and Eliza Gorman, black pioneers, at 641 NW Fourth St. in Corvallis. The home is the oldest black-pioneer-built structure in Oregon that remains standing. It was going to be demolished in 2004, but the couple stepped up to save it.
Howell said Hannah Gorman took in laundry and her daughter had a reputation as a fine seamstress. The family had traveled to Polk County in 1844 with the Thorpe family, but by 1856 had moved independently to Corvallis and established their new lives. Both were highly respected in the community.
Howell said he’s leaving the staff of 30 in good hands with new director Justin Thomas. Thomas has been the Mental Health Crisis Team supervisor.
“The staff is strong and Justin will be an asset in making it even stronger,” Howell said. “He will have a positive impact.”
Budget issues have been the most difficult part of his job, but he adds that the Health Department has been quite effective in securing grant funds.
“The commissioners have always given us good support,” he said. “Addiction treatment is an important service in our communities.”
“Tony has been serving the citizens of Linn County for an amazing 39 years, leading the A&D program,” Linn County public health director Todd Noble said. “He is a humble public servant who has a huge heart, whose leadership embodies kindness, accountability and advocacy for those struggling with substance abuse.
“Under his stewardship Linn County’s A&D program has been able to restore hope and recovery for countless Linn County citizens.
“Tony is the longest-serving program manager in Linn County’s history. He has touched so many lives and has been a steadfast supporter of his employees and the clients served by his program. We are so grateful for his outstanding public service. His dedication and legacy will live on for decades to come.”
– Alex Paul, Linn County Communications Officer