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William James "Bill" Howell
Member From: 1988 - 2017
- Birth Date: 1943 Birth Place:Washington, DC
- Gender: Male Race: Caucasian
- Spouse: Cecelia S.
- Children: William F. and Leland J.
- Religion: Baptist
- Education: University of Richmond (B.S., Business Administration), University of Virginia School of Law (J.D.)
- Military Service:
- Occupation/Profession: Attorney and Vice president of National Bank in Fredricksburg
- Memberships/Affiliations: Spotswood Baptist Church, American Legislative Exchange Council (former national chairman), Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission (chairman), Virginia State Bar, Rappahannock United Way (former chairman, campaign chairman), Mary Washington Hospital (board of directors, vice chairman), Rappahannock YMCA (board of directors), Rappahannock Hospice (board of directors)
- Bio: Born in Washington, D.C., May 8, 1943. William J. Howell of Falmouth represented Stafford County and the City of Fredericksburg from 1988-2017. He is the son of the late William F. Howell, Director of Administration at the World Bank, and the late Eileen (Hill) Howell of Essex, England. Raised in Alexandria, he was educated at Fairfax High School, received his B.A. degree in Business Administration from the University of Richmond and his J.D. degree from the University of Virginia. He married Cecelia Joy Stump of Arlington in June 1966. They have two sons, William Fayette Howell, III and Leland Jackson Howell, and seven grandchildren. An affable and courtly gentleman, Howell is an attorney specializing in trusts and estates, a director on the board of Virginia Heartland Bank, a former director of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, a past president and campaign chair of the Rappahannock United Way, and a past board vice-chair at Mary Washington Hospital. A member of Ferry Farm Baptist Church, he long has been a deacon, a Sunday school teacher and a leader in bible studies. Elected to the House of Delegates in 1987, he chaired the Courts of Justice Committee, served on the Finance; Health, Welfare and Institutions; Transportation; and Rules Committees, and also led the Virginia Code Commission. In 2003, he was elected Speaker and presided firmly, fairly, and with flashes of his well-known wit. He chaired the House Rules Committee and the Joint Rules Committee. Howell modernized House operations, instituting efficiencies in the legislative process and overseeing the renovation of the historic State Capitol for the 2007 Commemoration. He was instrumental in creating an independently-funded education and research organization, the Virginia Reform Initiative, which he chaired. It advocates new ideas and market-based reforms in legislation which are integral to his long-term, fiscally-responsible approach to governing. In 2005, the Civil War Preservation Trust presented Howell with their State Leadership Award for his role in promoting land preservation tax credits, which incorporate free-market incentive to work for open spaces land conservation. In 2001, the American Legislative Exchange Council honored him as State Legislator of the Year.
While he was Speaker of the House, the Clerks were BRUCE F. JAMERSON and G. PAUL NARDO.
| Session | District | District Number | Party | Leadership | Committees |
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| 1988 | Counties of Fauquier (part) and Stafford (part); City of Fredericksburg (part) | 53 | Republican | Finance Health Welfare and Institutions Interstate Cooperation |
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| 1989 | Counties of Fauquier (part) and Stafford (part); City of Fredericksburg (part) | 53 | Republican | Finance Health Welfare and Institutions Interstate Cooperation |
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| 1990 | Counties of Fauquier (part) and Stafford (part); City of Fredericksburg (part) | 53 | Republican | Finance Health Welfare and Institutions Interstate Cooperation |
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| 1991 | Counties of Fauquier (part) and Stafford (part); City of Fredericksburg (part) | 53 | Republican | Finance Health Welfare and Institutions Interstate Cooperation |
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| 1992 | County of Stafford | 28 | Republican | Courts of Justice Finance Interstate Cooperation |
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| 1993 | County of Stafford | 28 | Republican | Courts of Justice Finance Interstate Cooperation |
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| 1994 | County of Stafford | 28 | Republican | Agriculture Courts of Justice Finance |
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| 1995 | County of Stafford | 28 | Republican | Chesapeake and Its Tributaries Courts of Justice Finance |
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| 1996 | County of Stafford | 28 | Republican | Chesapeake and Its Tributaries Courts of Justice Finance |
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| 1997 | County of Stafford | 28 | Republican | Chesapeake and Its Tributaries Courts of Justice Finance |
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| 1998 | County of Stafford | 28 | Republican | Chesapeake and Its Tributaries Courts of Justice Finance Transportation |
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| 1999 | County of Stafford | 28 | Republican | Chesapeake and Its Tributaries Courts of Justice Finance Transportation |
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| 2000 | County of Stafford | 28 | Republican | Courts of Justice (Co Chair) Chesapeake and Its Tributaries Finance Transportation |
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| 2001 | County of Stafford | 28 | Republican | Courts of Justice (Co Chair) Chesapeake and Its Tributaries Finance Transportation |
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| 2002 | County of Stafford (part); City of Fredericksburg | 28 | Republican | Courts of Justice (Chair) Finance Rules |
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| 2003 | County of Stafford (part); City of Fredericksburg | 28 | Republican | Speaker of the House | Rules (Chair) |
| 2004 | County of Stafford (part); City of Fredericksburg | 28 | Republican | Speaker of the House | Rules (Chair) |
| 2005 | County of Stafford (part); City of Fredericksburg | 28 | Republican | Speaker of the House | Rules (Chair) |
| 2006 | County of Stafford (part); City of Fredericksburg | 28 | Republican | Speaker of the House | Rules (Chair) |
| 2007 | County of Stafford (part); City of Fredericksburg | 28 | Republican | Speaker of the House | Rules (Chair) |
| 2008 | County of Stafford (part); City of Fredericksburg | 28 | Republican | Speaker of the House | Rules (Chair) |
| 2009 | County of Stafford (part); City of Fredericksburg | 28 | Republican | Speaker of the House | Rules (Chair) |
| 2010 | County of Stafford (part); City of Fredericksburg | 28 | Republican | Speaker of the House | Rules (Chair) |
| 2011 | County of Stafford (part); City of Fredericksburg | 28 | Republican | Speaker of the House | Rules (Chair) |
| 2012 | County of Stafford (part); City of Fredericksburg (part) | 28 | Republican | Speaker of the House | Rules (Chair) |
| 2013 | County of Stafford (part); City of Fredericksburg (part) | 28 | Republican | Speaker of the House | Rules (Chair) |
| 2014 | County of Stafford (part); City of Fredericksburg (part) | Republican | Speaker of the House (2003—) | Rules (Chair) |
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| 2015 | County of Stafford (part); City of Fredericksburg (part) | Republican | Speaker of the House (2003—) | Rules (Chair) |
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| 2016 | County of Stafford (part); City of Fredericksburg (part) | 28 | Republican | Speaker of the House (2003—) | Rules (Chair) |
| 2017 | County of Stafford (part); City of Fredericksburg (part) | 28 | Republican | Speaker of the House (2003—) | Rules (Chair) |
*The information within this interactive and searchable application has been researched extensively by the House Clerk’s Office. As with any historical records of this age and breadth, there may be discrepancies and/or inconsistencies within records obtained from a variety of credible sources. Any feedback is encouraged at history@house.virginia.gov.