Biographical Information
Verna Elisha Howard

V.E. Howard was born at Farmersville, Louisiana on September 29, 1911. He passed away on September 28, 2000 at Texarkana, Texas, just one day short of his 89th birthday. His parents were Elisha John ("Hardy") and Corrine (Smith) Howard.

V.E. Howard and Ruth Moryne Jackson were married on December 20, 1931 in Corsicana, Texas. They had three children, Jasper Smith, Vernon Edgar and Marilyn Kay. Ruth was born on September 10, 1909 and passed away on January 31, 2000. On their tombstone in the family plot at Rocky Branch, Louisiana is engraved under Ruth's name, "A worthy woman" and under V.E.'s name "Are you listening?"

After being baptized into Christ in October of 1930, brother Howard began preaching at Powen, Texas in May of 1931. Churches he served include Hot Springs and Conway in Arkansas, and in Texas, the Johnson Street congregation in Greenville and the Walnut Street congregation in Texarkana. He held gospel meetings throughout the United States and baptized more than 8000 people. He authored many books and tracts, wrote several hymns*, and published a songbook entitled "Church Gospel Songs and Hymns". He attended Abilene Christian College, Harding College and Arkansas State University.

His business activites included being owner of Howard's Jewelers, and tenures as president of Central Printers and Publishing Company, and of Howard Foundations, Inc. He also served on the Board of Freed-Hardeman College.

Brother Howard was best known for his pioneer religious broadcasting. He began preaching on the radio at Hot Springs, Arkansas in 1934. He became known for his question to emphasize a Scripture or an important point, "Are you listening?" His voice was instantly recognized by thousands who were listening as he forcefully and clearly preached the gospel of Christ.

In 1966 he began the annual 'Gospel Hour Sing Song Till Midnight' which continued under his direction for some 20 years. First it was hosted by the Walnut Street congregation in Texarkana, Texas, but later it was held at various locations.

In 1995, after sixty-one years of broadcasting, he discontinued his radio work at the advice of his doctors and transfered the International Gospel Hour to the elders of the West Fayetteville congregation in Fayetteville, Tennessee to be continued by Winford Claiborne. It is the longest continuous broadcast in radio history.

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 *  Including: "He Died, Arose, and Lives", "Sing of His Love", "By Faith I Can See", "By His Wonderful Grace" and "The Prince of Glory".