Gift names study room in UNC-CH School of Dentistry

By Karla Gower

It wasn't quite love at first bite, but Helga Howell met her late husband, James, an Air Force dentist, when he worked on her teeth. Now she and her daughter,. Kristin Howell, have given $50,000 to the UNC-CH School of Dentistry to name the Howell Family Periodontal Residents Study Room in his memory.

James Howell, DDS, who died in 1991, had a periodontal practice in Greensboro, N.C., for more than 30 years.

"For many years, as a part-time faculty member in our School, Dr. James Howell spent much of his free time away from his Greensboro practice sharing his expertise with our students," said John Stamm, dean of the School of Dentistry. "Now, with this generous contribution from Helga and her daughter, Jim will continue to inspire graduate students in our Department of Periodontics forever. This is a most appropriate way for Helga and Kristin to pay tribute to him."

Helga said her husband was very proud of Carolina. "He left his booming practice every Wednesday to go to Chapel Hill to teach," she said. "It gave him great pleasure."

The couple met during the Korean War when James was stationed at the U.S. Air Force dental clinic in Wiesbaden, Germany, and Helga came to the clinic for dental treatment. After James returned home to Ellerbe, N.C., he invited Helga to visit. They married in 1959 and moved to Greensboro.

James was active in professional dental organizations, attending conferences throughout the United States, Canada, France and Germany to stay abreast of the developments in his field.

"His work was the most important thing to him; whatever was to be improved about it was important," Helga said. "He was really dedicated. "For example, seeing a need for trained dental assistants and hygienists in the state, James was instrumental in having a dental assisting program initiated at Guilford Technical Community College in Jamestown, N.C. And he was one of the first people in the area to use a computer in his business and at home.

Helga said that in 1990, James's friends and colleagues gave him a testimonial dinner to honor his dedication to the dental profession. And when he was ill before his death, she said, "every patient and every friend he had sent boxes full of letters to him. He was just that kind of person. He was outstanding."

James was also proud of his wife and encouraged her, at the age of 36, to take classes at UNC-Greensboro. "It started because I couldn't cook," Helga said. "I took a home economics course and enjoyed it."

She went on to receive her degree from UNC-G, majoring in French and German, which she taught at GTCC for eight years.

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