Al Howard
Al Howard | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1927 |
| Died | 2020 (aged 92–93) |
| Occupations | Police officer, night club owner |
Al Howard was an American police officer and nightclub owner. After a career as a New York City Police Department detective, he purchased and owned Showman’s Jazz Club.[1][2][3]
During his career as a detective he was part of the team that apprehended David Berkowitz, the serial killer known as the "Son of Sam".[1] Howard appeared as himself in the 2017 documentary about capturing Berkowitz.
In 1958, when he was a patrolman, he responded to a stabbing at a book-signing, and his quick thinking played a key role in saving Martin Luther King Jr.'s life.[1][3][4][5][6][7][8] King was signing his first book when a woman, Izola Curry, stabbed him with a letter opener. When Howard and his partner, Phil Romano, arrived on scene he found a well meaning witness was about to try to remove the knife from the wound. Howard realized that this could be dangerous, and directed her to stop. He advised King to try to remain still, and try not to cough - advice that doctors later confirmed was highly significant, as the knife was right next to King's aorta. If the knife had nicked King's aorta he would have immediately bled out.
Howard then duped the crowd that had gathered, telling them to clear a line to the front door.[1][2] He then went outside, as if he were waiting for the ambulance, which caused the crowd to follow him. Howard realized that the crowd would delay taking King to a nearby hospital, so he arranged for the ambulance to come to the rear of the building, where Romano and assistants had quietly taken King.
Howard died of COVID-19 while visiting Las Vegas, Nevada in October 2020.[1][4]
References
- ^ a b c d e Michael Wilson (November 13, 2020). "Before 'I Have a Dream,' Martin Luther King Almost Died. This Man Saved Him". The New York Times. p. MB1. Archived from the original on November 18, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
- ^ a b Michael Wilson (November 15, 2020). "Those we've lost: Al Howard, the officer who saved Martin Luther King after a stabbing, died of Covid-19". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 19, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
- ^ a b
Alexandra Aguirre (October 30, 2019). "Showman's, Harlem's longest-standing jazz club, serves up cocktails with a side of history". Columbia Spectator. Archived from the original on November 15, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
The club has been run by Mona Lopez and Al Howard for the past 38 years.
- ^ a b "Al Howard, the officer who rescued Martin Luther King after a stab, Kovid-19 died". November 15, 2020. Archived from the original on November 20, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
- ^
Michael Daly (January 18, 2010). "Retired cop Romano's touching moment with Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. resurfaces". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on November 20, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
He once more lit a candle and offered a prayer for the great man who would have never been able to tell the world his dream of a mountain top had a young Romano and his partner, Al Howard, not made sure all the way to the hospital that the letter opener was not even nudged.
- ^
Ron Scott (November 12, 2020). "Al Howard owner of Showman's Café dies at 93". Amsterdam News. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
Al Howard, the laid-back owner of Harlem's last remaining jazz club and bar Showman's Café, where locals and tourists both national and international flocked for over 50 years, died October 21. He was 93.
- ^ Jimmy Breslin (1997). I Want to Thank My Brain for Remembering Me: A Memoir. Thorndike Americana Press. p. 261. ISBN 9780786209712. Archived from the original on November 20, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
- ^ Tom Walker (2013). Bronx Hospital: A Memoir. iUniverse. p. 107-8, 116. ISBN 9781475987133. Archived from the original on November 20, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.