WILMINGTON — Louis J. Howard Jr., affectionately known as “Lefty Lou,” passed away on August 12, 2025, at the age of 82, following a brief illness.
Born on December 27, 1942, in Wilmington, NC, Lou was the beloved son of the late Louis “Sykes” Howard and Katherine Hall Howard Troth. He is survived by his wife, Johnnie Clanton Howard; his son, John Howard (Deborah) of Efland, NC; his brother, Jay Howard of Charlotte, NC; and his cherished dog, Bella. Lou was a proud grandfather to Rachel Howard Ferrell (Thomas) and Sarah Howard (AJ), and he was overjoyed to welcome his great-grandson, Eugene Thomas Ferrell V, in February 2025.
A Wilmington sports legend, Lou’s baseball career was marked by excellence and dedication. Following stellar achievements with New Hanover High School and American Legion baseball teams, Lou helped lead Wilmington Junior College to a National Championship in 1961. He turned down several major league offers to further his college career at Wake Forest University where he earned First Team All-ACC honors and an ACC title. After graduation he played briefly with the Pittsburgh Pirates minor league organization but returned home to Wilmington to be closer to family. His passion for the game continued through a remarkable 29-year coaching career at Roland Grise Junior High and Hoggard High School, where he mentored hundreds of student-athletes. Under his leadership, Roland Grise achieved numerous conference titles, amassing an extraordinary record of 225 wins and only 25 losses. Lou’s contributions to athletics were honored with inductions into the UNCW Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002 and the Greater Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.
Beyond the field, Lou brought the same dedication to his love of waterfowl hunting. He found joy in mentoring younger hunters and traveled across the U.S. and Canada in pursuit of his passion.
Lou will be remembered for his warmth, generosity, and the deep love he shared with his family, friends, and community. Known for his kind spirit, he never met a stranger and was famous for gifting Canadian coins and U.S. state quarters to those he encountered along life’s path.
A visitation will be held on August 23 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Andrews Mortuary, 1617 Market Street, Wilmington. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made in Lou’s memory to the UNCW Seahawk Club’s baseball scholarship fund.
