View source for Dixie Howell

{{Short description|American sports player and coach (1912–1971)}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = Dixie Howell
| image = Dixie Howell 1949.jpg
| alt = 
| caption = Howell, circa 1949
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1912|11|24}}
| birth_place = [[Hartford, Alabama]], U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1971|3|2|1912|11|24}}
| death_place = [[Los Angeles|Los Angeles, California]], U.S.
| alma_mater =
| player_sport1 = Football
| player_years2 = 1932–1934
| player_team2 = [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Alabama]]
| player_years3 = 1937
| player_team3 = [[Washington Redskins]]
| player_sport4 = Baseball
| player_years5 = 1933–1935
| player_team5 = [[Alabama Crimson Tide baseball|Alabama]]
| player_years6 = 1935–1942
| player_team6 = [[Minor league baseball|minor leagues]]
| player_positions = [[Halfback (American football)|Halfback]] (football)
| coach_sport1 = Football
| coach_years2 = 1935
| coach_team2 = [[Pumas CU|UNAM]]
| coach_years3 = 1936
| coach_team3 = [[Loyola Wolfpack football|Loyola (LA)]] (backs)
| coach_years4 = 1938–1941
| coach_team4 = [[Arizona State Sun Devils football|Arizona State]]
| coach_years5 = 1946
| coach_team5 = [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Alabama]] (backs)
| coach_years6 = 1947–1950
| coach_team6 = [[Idaho Vandals football|Idaho]]
| coach_years7 = late 1950s
| coach_team7 = [[Furman Paladins football|Furman]] (assistant)
| coach_sport8 = Baseball
| coach_years9 = 1946
| coach_team9 = [[Alabama Crimson Tide baseball|Alabama]]
| coach_years10 = 1958–1960
| coach_team10 = [[Furman Paladins baseball|Furman]]
| overall_record = 36–35–5 (college football)<br>42–40–1 (college baseball)
| bowl_record = 0–1–1
| tournament_record = 
| championships = [[List of NFL champions (1920–69)|NFL champion]] ([[1937 NFL Championship Game|1937]])<br>2 [[Border Conference|Border]] (1939, 1940)<br>[[ONEFA|Liga Mayor]] (1935)
| awards = 
* Consensus [[College Football All-America Team|All-American]] ([[1934 College Football All-America Team|1934]])
* [[Southeastern Conference football individual awards#Player of the Year|SEC Player of the Year]] (1934)
* 2× First-team [[List of All-SEC football teams|All-SEC]] ([[1933 All-SEC football team|1933]], [[1934 All-SEC football team|1934]])
| coaching_records = 
| CFBHOF_year = 1970
| CFBHOF_id = 1542
| module = 
{{Infobox military person
| embed = yes
| allegiance = {{USA}}
| branch = {{flag|United States Navy}}
| rank = [[File:US-O4 insignia.svg|15px]] [[Lieutenant commander (United States)|Lieutenant Commander]]
| battles = [[World War II]]
| unit = Training
| serviceyears = 1942–1945
| awards = 
}}
}}
'''Millard Fleming''' "'''Dixie'''" '''Howell''' (November 24, 1912 – March 2, 1971) was an [[American football]] and [[baseball]] player and coach. He played [[college football]] as a [[Halfback (American football)|halfback]] at the [[University of Alabama]] from [[1932 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|1932]] to [[1934 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|1934]] and with the [[1937 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL) in [[1937 Washington Redskins season|1937]]. Howell served as the head football coach at Arizona State Teachers College at Tempe, now [[Arizona State Sun Devils football|Arizona State University]], from 1938 to 1941 and at the [[Idaho Vandals football|University of Idaho]] from 1947 to 1950, compiling a career coaching record of 36–35–5 in college football. He also coached at the [[National Autonomous University of Mexico]] in 1935. Howell was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] as a player in 1970. He also played professional [[baseball]] in eight [[Minor league baseball|minor league]] seasons following college.

==Playing career==
===Football===
Born in [[Hartford, Alabama]], Howell graduated from [[Geneva County, Alabama|Geneva County]] High School in Hartford and played [[college football]] as an undersized ({{convert|160|lb|0|abbr=on}}) quadruple-threat [[Halfback (American football)|back]] at [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Alabama]] from [[1932 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|1932]] to [[1934 Alabama Crimson Tide football team|1934]].<ref name=whist>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RSwdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SKUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5295,7298014 |newspaper=Tuscaloosa News |location=Alabama |last=Browning |first=Al |title=Howell wasn't just whistling 'Dixie' |date=April 26, 1981 |page=B1}}</ref> As a senior, the Crimson Tide ran the ''[[Notre Dame Box]]'' offense, and he was a consensus [[1934 College Football All-America Team|All-American in 1934]], as well as one of the nation's top [[Punter (American football)|punters]]. The 1934 Alabama team had two future legends as [[End (gridiron football)|ends]]: [[Don Hutson]] and [[Bear Bryant]]. The Crimson Tide posted a 10–0 record, and defeated previously unbeaten [[Stanford Cardinal football|Stanford]] 29-13 in the [[1935 Rose Bowl|Rose Bowl]] on New Year's Day, 1935. Howell threw two touchdown passes to Hutson and ran for two more; he is a member of the all-time Rose Bowl team.<ref name=adayaw>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WhYfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GpwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4577,3539401 |newspaper=Tuscaloosa News |location=Alabama |title=New A-Day award will honor Howell |date=April 20, 1971 |page=6}}</ref>

In 1937, Howell briefly played professional football in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) for the [[1937 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]], who had just relocated from [[Boston]]. The Redskins had lost the [[List of NFL champions (1920–69)|NFL championship game]] in [[1936 NFL Championship Game|1936]] to [[1936 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay]], but returned to the title game in [[1937 NFL Championship Game|1937]] and defeated the [[1937 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]] at [[Wrigley Field]]. Howell was a reserve [[quarterback]] for the Redskins, behind starter [[Sammy Baugh]]. He became a collegiate head coach in 1938 and ended his football playing career.

===Baseball===
Howell also played baseball for the Crimson Tide and originally indicated he would finish out the college baseball season in 1935 and turn pro that June.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oItOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=h0ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=3723,5433638 |newspaper=Ludington Daily News |location=Michigan |title=Dixie Howell may join Detroit Tigers |agency=Associated Press |date=January 28, 1935 |page=2}}</ref> Plans changed and he signed a professional baseball contract with the [[Detroit Tigers]]
in early March<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WFUyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3bUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4444,568055 |newspaper=Palm Beach Post |location=Florida |title=Howell will play with Detroit Tigers |agency=Associated Press |date=March 6, 1935 |page=7 |access-date=November 15, 2015 |archive-date=November 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117041144/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WFUyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3bUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4444,568055 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pbJQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HiIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6443,1616664 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |title=Howell is slated to join Tigers' baseball farm |agency=Associated Press |date=March 15, 1935 |page=2-sports |access-date=November 15, 2015 |archive-date=November 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117035703/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pbJQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HiIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6443,1616664 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and played [[minor league baseball]] through 1942.

A month after signing, he was hospitalized after being struck in the head by a foul line drive; it occurred during batting practice before an April exhibition game in Virginia, off the bat of [[Johnny Mize]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=p0UsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rcoEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1267,3536965 |newspaper=Spartanburg Herald |title=Dixie Howell remains in serious shape in hospital |agency=Associated Press |date=April 12, 1935 |page=3}}</ref> In 1936 he played with [[Portland Beavers|Portland]] in the [[Pacific Coast League]], then was moved to [[Toledo Mud Hens|Toledo]] in the [[American Association (20th century)|American Association]]. His career tailed off and he spent the rest of his baseball career in lower leagues.<ref name=dhsqok>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nesxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ROMFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5002%2C2886918 |newspaper=Berkeley Daily Gazette |location=California |agency=United Press |title=Dixie Howell signs with Oklahoma City |date=February 5, 1940 |page=10 }}</ref> After service in the [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] during [[World War II]], he did not return as a player and became the head coach at Alabama in January 1946 and resigned in March 1947 to become head football coach at Idaho.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-xMyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=S-UDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6682%2C3977530 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |title=Dixie Howell given head coaching job at University of Idaho |date=February 27, 1947 |page=12}}</ref>

==Coaching career==
While pursuing his baseball career, Howell coached football in his autumn off-seasons; leading the [[National Autonomous University of Mexico]] to a [[ONEFA|Liga Mayor]] national championship in 1935 and serving as an assistant at [[Loyola University New Orleans]] in 1936.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com.mx/noticias/nota?id=503146|title=Hacen historia|publisher=[[ESPN Mexico]]|agency=[[Notimex]]|date=November 18, 2006|access-date=March 10, 2025|language=es}}</ref><ref name=alacoa>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TNs-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=zUwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6466%2C1075982 |newspaper=Tuscaloosa News |location=Alabama |title=Howell named Alabama coach |date=January 27, 1946 |page=7}}</ref><!--{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FbdIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tAsNAAAAIBAJ&pg=5182,4153513 |location=Charleston, South Carolina |newspaper=News and Courier |title=Dixie Howell to return to Alabama as coach |agency=UPI |date=January 27, 1946 |page=6}}</ref>-->

Following a season in the NFL in [[1937 Washington Redskins season|1937]], he was hired as head coach at the [[Arizona State Sun Devils football|Arizona State Teachers College]] in [[Tempe, Arizona|Tempe]],<ref name=oretem>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0TYxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LVADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6187%2C1168845 |newspaper=Evening Courier |location=Prescott, Arizona |agency=Associated Press |title=Oliver named head coach at Oregon; Howell gets Tempe job |date=January 27, 1938 |page=5 }}</ref> and stayed for four seasons (1938–1941) with the [[Arizona State Sun Devils football|Bulldogs]],<ref name=hbsctazst>{{cite news |url=http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/tempe-contributor/2016/05/06/tempe-history-how-big-college-football-star-came-coach-arizona-state/83633722/ |newspaper=Arizona Republic |location=Phoenix |last=Mark |first=Jay |title=Tempe history: How a big college football star came to coach at Arizona State |date=May 6, 2016 |access-date=June 9, 2016}}</ref> with two conference titles and two appearances in the [[Sun Bowl]].<ref name=dhqat>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=r4FSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kEcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2361%2C1318634 |newspaper=Deseret News |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |agency=Associated Press |title='Dixie' Howell quits at Tempe |date=March 14, 1942 |page=2, sports }}</ref> He was a finalist for the open job at Idaho in [[1941 college football season|1941]] to succeed [[Ted Bank]],<ref name=dhvid>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lbFaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_E8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=3355%2C3231765 |newspaper=Prescott Evening Courier |location=(Arizona) |agency=Associated Press |title=Dixie Howell views Idaho |date=March 14, 1941 |page=5}}</ref> which went to [[Francis Schmidt]], then resigned his position at Tempe in the spring of 1942 and joined the [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] as a physical training instructor for naval aviators.<ref name=dhqat/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2xwvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4tsFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3980,4104685&dq=dixie+howell&hl=en |newspaper=Ottawa Citizen |location=Canada |title=Charles Gelbart, Dixie Howell, John Kelly are P.T. instructors now |agency=Associated Press |date=August 25, 1942 |page=8}}</ref> He served until his discharge as a [[Lieutenant commander (United States)|lieutenant commander]] in November 1945, then returned to [[Tuscaloosa, Alabama|Tuscaloosa]] in January 1946 as an assistant football coach (backs) and head baseball coach for the Crimson Tide.<ref name=alacoa/>

Howell was hired as head football coach at [[Idaho Vandals football|Idaho]] of the [[Pacific Coast Conference]] in February 1947,<ref name=hhbiu >{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BPo-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=YE0MAAAAIBAJ&pg=6405%2C2490185 |newspaper=Tuscaloosa News |location=Alabama |agency=Associated Press |title=Howell signed by Idaho U. |date=February 27, 1947 |page=9}}</ref> and guided the usually-struggling Vandals to a promising 4–4 record in his first season in [[Moscow, Idaho|Moscow]], Idaho's best since [[1938 Idaho Vandals football team|1938]].<ref name=gem48fb47>{{cite web|url=http://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1948/288 |work=Gem of the Mountains |agency=University of Idaho yearbook |title=Football (fall 1947)|date=1948|pages=282–294}}</ref> The Vandals beat [[1947 Stanford Indians football team|Stanford]] on the road, a team that had defeated them 45–0 the previous year (but went winless in [[1947 Stanford Indians football team|1947]]). It was Idaho's second-ever football victory over a PCC team from California, following a victory over first-year [[1928 UCLA Bruins football team|UCLA]] in 1928. The Vandals also knocked off an undefeated [[1947 Utah Redskins football team|Utah]] in the season finale in [[Boise, Idaho|Boise]]. The Vandals drew a [[Palouse]] and [[Idaho|state]] record crowd to [[Neale Stadium]] for their [[Battle of the Palouse|annual rivalry game with Washington State]] in October, albeit a close 7–0 loss to the Cougars.<ref name=fsvn>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fBg0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=X-UDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6737%2C1671625 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |title=Cougars claw Idaho Vandals 7-0 |date=October 5, 1947 |page=1-sports}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=k-5XAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qPUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3526%2C1458396 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |title=Grid fans pack Moscow stadium |date=October 4, 1947 |page=1}}</ref> These promising factors earned Howell a two-year contract extension through 1950.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tc5eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4zIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1490,4705710 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=Idaho |title=Dixie Howell signs new two-year contract as Idaho football coach |date=April 28, 1948 |page=8}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zPlXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ovUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5869,5718140 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |title=Dixie Howell signs new Idaho contract |date=April 27, 1948 |page=21}}</ref> The progress did not continue, as the Vandals opened the [[1948 college football season|1948]] season with four losses and went {{nowrap|3–6}} overall and {{nowrap|1–5}} in conference, defeating only [[Montana Grizzlies football|Montana]] for the [[Little Brown Stein]]. Idaho played Washington State close at [[Rogers Field (Washington State)|Rogers Field]] in [[Pullman, Washington|Pullman]] and gave [[1948 Oregon Ducks football team|Oregon]] a scare in Moscow.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=s5spAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bOUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6886,3999899 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |title=Action in pictures of Idaho's valiant losing battle against Oregon |date=October 10, 1948 |page=3-sports}}</ref> The Ducks, with [[Norm Van Brocklin]] and [[John McKay (American football)|John McKay]], went 7–0 in conference and were co-champions with [[1948 California Golden Bears football team|California]].

Howell's relationship with Idaho fans and the administration was strained following the [[1949 college football season|1949]] season.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LbheAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dTAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1444,3143121 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=Idaho |title=Report says Howell under fire |agency=Associated Press |date=April 8, 1950 |page=8}}</ref> The Vandals went {{nowrap|3–5}} and {{nowrap|1–4}} in conference that season, defeating only departing Montana again. Their two non-conference wins were against overmatched opponents [[Willamette Bearcats football|Willamette]] and [[Portland Pilots football|Portland]], and the Vandals were severely outscored {{nowrap|230–45}} in their five losses, capped by a {{nowrap|63–0}} loss at [[1949 Stanford Indians football team|Stanford]] to end the season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/wac/idaho/yearly_results.php?year=1945 |publisher=College Football Data Warehouse |title=Idaho - 1945-49 |agency=yearly results |access-date=October 20, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008102323/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_ia/wac/idaho/yearly_results.php?year=1945 |archive-date=October 8, 2012 }}</ref> Howell felt compelled to publicly deny rumors in April that he would leave before the 1950 season.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TOVXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VPYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4226,822018 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |title=Howell denies he will leave Idaho grid job |date=April 18, 1950 |page=17}}</ref>

The Vandals posted a 3–5–1 record in 1950 and 1–1–1 in conference, and Howell's contract was not renewed in March 1951.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bOZXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=M_YDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7001,5340391 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |title=Dixie Howell resigns as Idaho football coach |date=March 27, 1951 |page=21}}</ref> Assistant coach [[Raymond A. Curfman|Babe Curfman]] succeeded him, after leading the team through its spring drills on an interim basis.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eS5WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2OUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4857,1567426 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Idaho selects Curfman as coach |date=April 17, 1951 |page=14}}</ref>

While Howell was the head coach, the Idaho Vandals wore red jerseys.<ref name=gem49redj>{{cite web|url=http://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1949/230 |work=Gem of the Mountains |agency=University of Idaho yearbook |title=On the field: varsity and intramurals (color photo): Oregon at Idaho, October 9, 1948 |date=1949 |pages=218}}</ref><ref name=rwlwtes>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ki1WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Z-UDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6556%2C4906800 
|title=Reds wallop Whites in finale of Idaho grid spring training, 41 to 14 |date=May 13, 1948 |page=12}}</ref><ref name=tups>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=s_FXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vfUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7101%2C4965091 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |title=Cougars, Idaho tapering off on football tuneups |date=September 13, 1948 |page=15 }}</ref><ref name=rwipg>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Hy5WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ruUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1818%2C2885778 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |title=Reds win Idaho practice game |date=May 7, 1950 |page=2, sports }}</ref>

==In media==
Howell had an uncredited role in the [[1936 in film|1936]] movie, ''[[The Adventures of Frank Merriwell]]'' as a football player.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1292755/ Millard 'Dixie' Howell<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> In the book ''[[To Kill a Mockingbird]]'' chapter 11, Scout, in an attempt to cheer up her brother, tells him he resembles Dixie Howell.

Howell is also mentioned in [[Randy Newman]]'s song "My Daddy Knew Dixie Howell" from the album ''[[Good Old Boys (Randy Newman album)|Good Old Boys]]''.

==After coaching==
Howell got out of coaching and later worked in the [[Los Angeles]] area in sales and public relations. He had two operations for intestinal cancer in 1969<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8E5LAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZyMNAAAAIBAJ&pg=6709,127640 |newspaper=Press-Courier |location=Oxnard, California |title=Howell tumor is malignant |agency=Associated Press |date=October 1, 1969 |page=21}}</ref> and 1971 and died at [[Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center|Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital]] in March 1971 at age 58.<ref name=obitdh>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=U3gsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HswEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7215,282383 |newspaper=Spartanburg Herald |location=South Carolina |title=Former Tide star dies at 58 |agency=Associated Press |date=March 3, 1971 |page=15}}</ref> and was buried in Alabama in his hometown of [[Hartford, Alabama|Hartford]].<ref name=dhtbbih>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZRYfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=G5wEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3933%2C447239 |newspaper=Tuscaloosa News|location=Alabama |last=Marshall |first=Phillip |title='Dixie' Howell to be buried in Hartford |date=March 3, 1971 |page=9}}</ref> His wife, former actress Peggy Watters Howell (1914–2006),<ref name=mwjnlpwh>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ealQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-SEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1266%2C8249547 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |agency=Associated Press |title=Dixie Howell to wed film actress Nov. 24 |date=November 15, 1935 |page=7, part 2 |access-date=November 15, 2015 |archive-date=November 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117035636/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ealQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-SEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1266%2C8249547 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=pwmdhl>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BB1WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=i-MDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2971%2C2783945 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Peggy Waters marries Dixie football star |date=November 25, 1935 |page=5}}</ref> outlived him by 35 years and is buried beside him.

Weeks after his death, Alabama created an award in his name, given to the outstanding player of the annual spring game.<ref name=adayaw/>

==Head coaching record==
===Football===
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name      = [[Arizona State Sun Devils football|Arizona State Bulldogs]]
 | conf      = [[Border Conference]]
 | startyear = 1938
 | endyear   = 1941
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1938 college football season|1938]]
 | name         = [[1938 Arizona State Bulldogs football team|Arizona State]]
 | overall      = 3–6
 | conference   = 0–5
 | confstanding = 7th
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference
 | year         = [[1939 college football season|1939]]
 | name         = [[1939 Arizona State Bulldogs football team|Arizona State]]
 | overall      = 8–2–1
 | conference   = 5–1
 | confstanding = 1st
 | bowlname     = [[1940 Sun Bowl|Sun]]
 | bowloutcome  = T
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = conference
 | year         = [[1940 college football season|1940]]
 | name         = [[1940 Arizona State Bulldogs football team|Arizona State]]
 | overall      = 7–2–2
 | conference   = 4–1–1
 | confstanding = 1st
 | bowlname     = [[1941 Sun Bowl|Sun]]
 | bowloutcome  = L
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1941 college football season|1941]]
 | name         = [[1941 Arizona State Bulldogs football team|Arizona State]]
 | overall      = 5–5–1
 | conference   = 2–4–1
 | confstanding = 7th
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Arizona State
 | overall    = 23–15–4
 | confrecord = 11–11–2
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name      = [[Idaho Vandals football|Idaho Vandals]]
 | conf      = [[Pacific Coast Conference]]
 | startyear = 1947
 | endyear   = 1950
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1947 college football season|1947]]
 | name         = [[1947 Idaho Vandals football team|Idaho]]
 | overall      = 4–4
 | conference   = 1–4
 | confstanding = 9th
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1948 college football season|1948]]
 | name         = [[1948 Idaho Vandals football team|Idaho]]
 | overall      = 3–6
 | conference   = 1–5
 | confstanding = 9th
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1949 college football season|1949]]
 | name         = [[1949 Idaho Vandals football team|Idaho]]
 | overall      = 3–5
 | conference   = 1–4
 | confstanding = 9th
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
 | championship = 
 | year         = [[1950 college football season|1950]]
 | name         = [[1950 Idaho Vandals football team|Idaho]]
 | overall      = 3–5–1
 | conference   = 1–1–1
 | confstanding = T–4th
 | bowlname     = 
 | bowloutcome  = 
 | bcsbowl      = 
 | ranking      = no
 | ranking2     = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
 | name       = Idaho
 | overall    = 13–20–1
 | confrecord = 4–14–1
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
 | overall  = 36–35–5
 | bowls    = no
 | poll     = no
 | polltype = 
}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{cfbhof|id=1542|name=Dixie Howell}}
* {{Footballstats |nfl=2516906 |cfl= |afl= |espn= |cbs= |yahoo= |fox= |si= |pfr=H/HoweDi20  |dbf=HOWELDIX01 |rotoworld=}}
* {{baseballstats|brm=howell002mil}}
* {{IMDb name|id=1292755|name=Dixie Howell}}
* {{Find a Grave|19281169}}
{{Arizona State Sun Devils football coach navbox}}
{{Alabama Crimson Tide baseball coach navbox}}
{{Idaho Vandals football coach navbox}}
{{Furman Paladins baseball coach navbox}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Dixie Howell—championships, awards, and honors
| list1 =
{{Southeastern Conference Football Player of the Year navbox}}
{{1934 College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{1934 Alabama Crimson Tide football navbox}}
{{1937 Washington Redskins}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Howell, Dixie}}
[[Category:1912 births]]
[[Category:1971 deaths]]
[[Category:American football halfbacks]]
[[Category:Alabama Crimson Tide baseball coaches]]
[[Category:Alabama Crimson Tide baseball players]]
[[Category:Alabama Crimson Tide football coaches]]
[[Category:Alabama Crimson Tide football players]]
[[Category:Arizona State Sun Devils football coaches]]
[[Category:Furman Paladins baseball coaches]]
[[Category:Furman Paladins football coaches]]
[[Category:Idaho Vandals football coaches]]
[[Category:Loyola Wolf Pack football coaches]]
[[Category:Portland Beavers players]]
[[Category:Toledo Mud Hens players]]
[[Category:Washington Redskins players]]
[[Category:All-American college football players]]
[[Category:College Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:United States Navy personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:United States Navy officers]]
[[Category:People from Hartford, Alabama]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Alabama]]
[[Category:American expatriate sportspeople in Mexico]]