Jerry Alfred Howard, Ph.D., age 67, of McKinney, Texas, passed away December 18, 2009. He was born on September 17, 1942 in Moscow, Idaho, to Alfred and Adeline (Boller) Howard. Dr. Howard grew up in Potlatch, Idaho. He graduated from the University of Idaho, in Moscow, on a football and track scholarship. He earned his Bachelor Degree in Business Agriculture. Dr. Howard received his MBA at Santa Clara University, and earned his Doctorate of Economics from Washington State University. While in college, Dr. Howard worked six months with impoverished farmers in South Korea, on a youth service project. He also worked in Nigeria, teaching crop management for FMC Corporation. Dr. Howard married Peggy Cass Begala on April 11, 1981, in Houston, Texas. Dr. Howard was CEO and Chairman of the Board of the Atrion Corporation from 1984 to 1998, and also worked with many different charitable organizations, including serving as President of the United Way in Florence, Alabama. He took great pleasure in mentoring his stepchildren as well as many young business associates. Although Dr. Howard’s business career took him to many places, his heart was always in Potlatch, Idaho with his family and many friends. Some of his fondest memories were of working with his father, brothers and cousins on the family ranch. His keen sense of adventure led him to try his hand at everything from bull riding to downhill skiing to big game hunting to obtaining his pilot’s license to leading a group of Texas students to Colima, Mexico to study Spanish, at age 60. Dr. Howard is survived by his wife Peggy. He is also survived by his stepchildren, Kathleen Begala and husband, Yves Istel of New York, New York, David Begala and wife, Becky, of Houston, Texas, Paul Begala and wife, Diane, of McLean, Virginia, Christopher Begala and wife, Jeanie, of Houston, Texas, and Michael Begala of Addison, Texas. His grandchildren filled his life with joy. They are: John, Billy, Charlie, Patrick, Sam, Grace, Katherine, Nicole, and Christopher Begala. Dr. Howard is also survived by his brothers, John Howard and wife Jennifer, of Potlatch, Idaho; and Julian Howard, of Lewiston, Idaho; and a host of other loving family. He is preceded in death by his parents Alfred and Adeline (Boller) Howard. Funeral Mass will commence at 11:00 a.m., on Tuesday, December 22, at St. Gabriel The Archangel Catholic Community, 110 St. Gabriel Way, McKinney, Texas. Interment will be held at Freeze Cemetery in Potlatch, Idaho. The family will receive friends for a visitation and rosary service on Monday, December 21, beginning at 7:00pm at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee or Freeze Cemetery Association of Potlatch, Idaho c/o Julie Hoidal.