Obituary: Manufacturer rep Frank Howard III

After a long career in the home improvement industry as a manufacturers rep, Frank (Bud) S. Howard III died last week.

Bud ran the Indianapolis-based Frank S. Howard Company after his dad Frank retired in 1968 until he retired in 1992. Bud called on accounts in the states of Indiana, Kentucky, and Southern Ohio for 35 plus years. 

He enjoyed his friendships with his buyers and his vendors. He had long time friendships with many buyers in and out of the hardware & housewares trades. He loved his years of travel in his territory and loved to talk about the relationships he had with his accounts. He also loved working trade shows at HWI (now Do it Best Corp.), VanCamp Hardware, Kruse Hardware, and Rust Wholesale. 

The Frank S. Howard Company was founded in 1945 and next year will mark the company's 70th anniversary. The company has represented many of its current vendors since 1945. The company is currently run by Dave and Jeff Howard.

Bud was Rep of the Year several times for Mobil Chemical and Seymour Housewares and also Pollenex Corp. He sold accounts including Do it Best Corp., Hooks Drugs, Belknap Hardware and Ayr-Way Stores (now Target Stores).