George Howell Jr. had a photographic memory that allowed him to remember the contents of a book, and he used that ability to excel in school and as a corporate lawyer.
"He never took a closed-book exam," said Peter Howell, a son from Atlanta. "In his mind, he could see the picture of the book."
On Thanksgiving night, George Arthur Howell Jr. died of natural causes at Wellstar Cobb Hospital in Austell. He was 92. A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday at First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta. SouthCare Cremation Society and Memorial Centers in Marietta is in charge of arrangements.
An Atlanta native, Mr. Howell attended Spring Street Elementary and graduated from Episcopal High School, where he was a three-sport athlete. He earned a bachelor's degree in history in three years at Princeton University. He was a 1942 Harvard Law School graduate.
Mr. Howell married his first wife, the late Caroline Sherman, and the couple settled in Atlanta, where he joined his brother-in-law, Francis Marion "Buster" Bird Sr., and formed the law firm Bird & Howell. The men later merged with golf legend Bobby Jones to form Jones, Bird & Howell.
In 1982, that firm merged with Alston, Miller & Gaines and became Alston & Bird, which became influential throughout the Southeast.
"He's the last living original member of Alston & Bird," his son said. "They started out with three people and today the firm has more than 700 lawyers and offices in Atlanta, Washington, D.C., New York, Charlotte and Raleigh."
Mr. Howell was civic minded with an affinity for education. He helped diversify the Westminster Schools. He was an honorary alumnus at Georgia Tech and received an honorary degree from Oglethorpe University. He was a board trustee for Morehouse College, Oglethorpe University, Princeton and Episcopal High, among other institutions. He served as general counsel for the state university system and the Georgia Tech Athletic Association.
At Princeton, Mr. Howell played tailback until he injured his right knee. He also became a noted tennis player, and in the 1960s he and a son, George Arthur "Speed" Howell III, were nationally ranked by the United States Tennis Association. The Southern Tennis Association saluted the Howells as the 1964 "Tennis Family of the Year."
"My sister and I played mixed doubles with him," said Eleanor Effinger, a daughter from Atlanta. "He certainly understood the game and appreciated it as a spectator."
Additional survivors include his second wife of 38 years, Janet "Jenny" K. Howell of Austell; son Richard Howell of Atlanta; daughter Lindy Rogers of Atlanta; stepsons Doug Franchot of Cleveland, Ohio, Peter Franchot of Maryland and Michael Franchot of Atlanta; and 24 grandchildren.
