Penn Wood names alum Howard AD

Penn Wood High School Wednesday announced the hiring of Leon Howard as its athletic director, replacing the late Rap Curry.

Howard is a 1990 graduate of Penn Wood, the same class as Curry. He was a second-team All-Delco in basketball the season that Curry was the player of the year. He was first-team AllDelco in track and field.

Howard competed in basketball and track and field at Lincoln University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in business administration and management.

He was an all-conference basketball player and a six-time All-American triple jumper, inducted in 2019 to the Lincoln University Athletic Hall of Fame.

Howard’s professional experience includes as the president, executive director and basketball commissioner at the Yeadon Education Athletic Association since 2008, overseeing programs for more than 600 student-athletes ages 5 to 18 annually. He has worked as a personal banker and small business advocate at Wells Fargo, teaching financial literacy workshops for school districts and nonprofit organizations.

“Leon’s dedication to community involvement is evident through his extensive list of activities and achievements, including serving as a board member for the Yeadon Economic Development Corporation, involvement in various nonprofit organizations, and his contributions

to mentoring and coaching youth sports,” the William Penn School District wrote in a press release. “His passion for empowering youth and fostering positive relationships within the community aligns perfectly with the values upheld by the William Penn School District.”

The official announcement hailed Howard for his, “deep understanding of the importance of athletics in our district and community, as well as a commitment to upholding the legacy of excellence left by the late Rap Curry.”

Curry, a standout basketball player at Penn Wood and then Saint Joseph’s University, died at age 51 in July. Curry returned to his alma mater as the boys basketball coach in 2003 and took over as athletic director in 2005.

His name now graces the rebuilt Kerr Field athletic complex that he was instrumental in helping refurbish. The facility was first used by the football team last fall.