On Monday morning, November 1st, the Long Island Lacrosse community lost another Legend as James Howell died. Jim was known by all of the LI Lacrosse family as a Hall of Fame Official from 1970 to 2009, Founding Father of the NY State Officials Association, a Founder and past President of the Nassau PAL and the Founder of Long Island Summer Youth Lacrosse League Program. Many of the youth rules he put into place are still used today all over the country. He created much of the infrastructure that makes LI lacrosse that it is today.
Jim was a mentor to countless leaders in the sport today as stated by Harry Jacobs. ” Jim was one of the founders of the Greenport Shootout sponsored by the LIMLF. In 2017, the Greenport Shootout was dedicated in honor of Jim Howell, a member of the LIMLF and PAL Board of Directors . As a chapter of USA Lacrosse, the governing body of lacrosse in our country, the mission of the Long Island Metropolitan Lacrosse Foundation is to foster and promote the game for all in the Metropolitan New York and Long Island areas. Jim gave so much of his time, energy and leadership for the benefit of lacrosse for so many years that it is only fitting that we dedicated the 2017 Shootout in his honor. Each year the Greenport Shootout got better and bigger thanks to Jim’s efforts many years ago in bringing the Shootout to Greenport”.
As a past president of the Nassau County Lacrosse Officials Association, he was known as one of the top officials in the county. Jim officiated countless County, Regional and State Playoff games throughout his career. He received numerous honors for his outstanding officiating and his service to our sport. Some of his awards included:
1983 Chet Zabek Officials Award
1990 James P. Condon “Man of the Year” Award
1996 Nassau County Lacrosse Coaches Association “Man of the Year”
1996 Tom Gullota Nassau County Executive Award
1997 LIMLF Hall of Fame Inductee
2016 Nassau County Athletics Hall of Fame
2017 LIMLF Harvey Cohen Service Award
From the Directors of the LIMLF and the whole Lacrosse Family, our prayers go out to Jim’s wife, Judy and the rest of Howell Family. Rest in Peace, Jim.
THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER MAN LIKE JIM!
Arrangements:
Wiegand Brothers Funeral Home 49 Hillside Avenue Williston Park
Viewing — Wednesday, November 3pm – 8pm
Funeral Service — Friday, November 4 – 10am
followed by burial at Pinelawn National Cemetery