Blair businessman awarded Dana's highest non-academic honor

Dana College will bestow its College-Community Service Award to Roger Howland during Commencement, Saturday, May 21. The College-Community Service Award is the highest non-academic honor Dana gives.

Howland is a 1964 graduate of Dana College and owner-manager of Country Tire, Inc., with stores in Blair and several other locations. Before starting his own business 20 years ago, he worked for Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. and Nebraska/Iowa Supply Co.

Howland was a standout wrestler at Dana during his student years and has been one the most active and generous supporters of the Dana wrestling program. He was the 2005 inductee into the Dana College Wrestling Hall of Fame.

“ Roger operates his business with the utmost integrity and seeks to give every customer a fair deal,” said Dr. Myrvin Christopherson, president. “He loves Dana and has employed and supported many Dana students.”

Howland has received numerous awards and appointments in the Blair community. He has served as president of Blair Pre-School, Blair Lions Club, Blair Area Chamber of Commerce and the Dana College Alumni Council. He has volunteered as a Little League Baseball coach, the Blair City KENO Committee, the Dana Boosters, the Board of National Association of Tire Dealers of North America, Firestone Agricultural Dealer Council and the Washington County Leadership Committee. Howland is a member of First United Methodist Church, where he is an usher, past member of the Finance Committee and current co-chairman of the Missions Committee.

Howland and his wife, Linda (Anderson), a 1965 graduate of Dana, have two children, Nathan and Eric, and live in Blair. Eric works with his father at Country Tire, representing the second generation of community business leadership by the Howlands.

Dana College is a place where all students actively participate. They make things happen — in their own lives and in the lives of others. Through a highly supportive faculty and campus community, Dana students develop interpersonal skills, leadership abilities, and other important values and knowledge as they make choices about their future. Dana’s outstanding academic programs in business, education, music and social work, among others, ensure that students have the knowledge, skills and experience necessary to pursue challenging careers or placement in graduate school.

Dana College is a private, liberal arts institution in Blair, Neb. To learn more, visit www.dana.edu.

Dana College: Develop talents, Take charge, Build a future — We’re with you all the way.

— END—

For more information contact:
Sarah Cavanah
Communications Coordinator
Dana College
(402) 426-7216
scavanah@dana.edu