Dexter, MI: Thomson Shore (2016).

Hardback. Stamped signature.

Coach D. M. Howie was born in Jackson, Mississippi in 1930. He attended Galloway Elementary, Bailey Jr. High, and Central High School. At Central he played one year of football, three years basketball, and three years of baseball under Coach Robert Berry.

He started work for the railroad in 1950. In 1951 he entered the Army and served two years, spending 13 months in Germany.

In 1953 he became a Little League umpire and coach. He coached at this level for 11 years and won 10 championships.

To pursue his dream he attended Hinds Junior College and Mississippi College graduating in 1967. That year he was hired by St. Joseph High School as the baseball coach with teaching duties in physical education.

At St. Joseph he built his first baseball field, the Bobby Jacquith Field. He won 3 state, 5 South Mississippi, 14 district championships and one Little Dixie championship.

In 1982 he was hired as the first baseball coach for Northwest Rankin High School and built the original Wesley Scarborough Field there. After coaching three years he retired for the first time and worked as junior high principal for the next 3 years. But coaching was in his blood and he returned and coached two more years at Northwest Rankin.

Next he coached two years at Madison Ridgeland. When it became Madison Central High School he was hired as its first baseball coach and designed the first field there. He retired for the second time in 1995.

In 2003 he went back to St. Joseph where he worked as assistant baseball coach for two years and head coach for two years. He retired for the third time in 2006. The present baseball field at St. Joseph High School, now in Madison, is named in his honor.

In retirement he continues to contribute to high school sports. He enjoys testing umpires and coaches on the intricacies of the game citing rules and decisions that baffle those not prepared.

As a founding member of Crossroads Diamond Club (first known as the Crossroads Civitan Club), he and Doug Shanks spearheaded the club's sponsorship of the Mississippi High School All-Star Baseball game in 1975. Coach Howie served as the first all-star coach in 1975 and again in 1994. Proceeds from the all-star games are distributed through Thanksgiving and Christmas projects.

Former players respect Coach Howie's uncompromising work ethic and his reverence for the game's traditions. Hard work. Team work. Respect. Passion. Pride. Giving 100 percent. Knowing the rules. Playing to win. And being a winner in everything, on and off the field.

His career record is 495 wins, and 252 losses.