From virtually the early days of flight, San Antonio has been an aviation hotspot.

Among the legendary figures that have helped shape the industry in the city was Durrell “Dee” Howard. A true modern-day renaissance man, Howard was the epitome of the American success story. Despite leaving school before ninth grade, he went on to have a legendary career as a self-taught inventor, engineer and entrepreneur.

After serving in World War II, he formed a partnership with Earl F. Slick in founding Slick Airways, one of the first post-war cargo aviation companies in the country. In 1964, Howard launched the Dee Howard Co., becoming an innovator in the burgeoning commercial aircraft market.

Before his passing in 2009, Howard turned his passion for engineering into a new company, River City Products, this time focusing on automotive engineering. His dynamism and drive made him a magnet for those that came into his orbit. Among those was a young and idealistic lawyer from San Antonio named Wayne Fagan.

“I met Dee Howard in 1970,” said Fagan. “Back then, he had one hangar and 75 employees. We hit it off and became very close. I remained in private practice but became his lawyer. He was just a brilliant man, a brilliant engineer. A real innovator.”

After Fagan graduated law school from the University of Texas in Austin, he returned home to San Antonio to build his law practice. Along the way, he spent time teaching at the Head Start program in the Edgewood Independent School District. There he planted the seed for what later turned into multiple philanthropic efforts geared toward education and uplifting underprivileged youth.

“I have always had an interest in helping underserved communities no matter where I lived,” Fagan explained. “I’ve always had an interest in the role that the law plays in underserved countries and populations.”

Also, early on in his career, Fagan met someone that proved to be equally important to his life – Richard Goldsmith. Just a few short years after creating what became the San Antonio Area Foundation, Goldsmith’s mission resonated deeply with Fagan. However, still young in his career, he didn’t feel he was ready yet to make the difference in the community that he wanted. That meeting always remained in the back of his mind, though.

Soon after, Fagan had that fateful meeting with Howard. The relationship evolved over the years, starting professionally as Fagan served as both Howard’s personal attorney as well as his corporate one.

Over the course of the coming decades, Fagan and Howard’s professional relationship turned into a deep friendship. When Howard passed away, Fagan wanted to not just honor him but also find a way to cement his legacy.

“I was always concerned about the 20% dropout rate in San Antonio with kids in schools, and I became interested in how we could use aerospace to reach the underserved community to inspire them,” Fagan explained. “When Dee passed away in 2009, I talked to the family about all of that, and we decided to start a foundation to carry on Dee’s legacy.”

As the idea solidified, Fagan recalled the meeting with Goldsmith in deciding to grow Dee Howard’s legacy in partnership with the Area Foundation. Despite having limited resources at the time for the Dee Howard Foundation, Fagan and Goldsmith came up with the perfect solution: a donor advised fund (DAF).

“Donor advised funds (DAFs) are tools that enable easy, impactful philanthropy in the community,” explained Laura Giacomoni, Executive Director of Development and Donor Services at the Area Foundation. “They allow donors to receive an immediate tax deduction for the amount contributed, and the flexibility to support nonprofits at their own pace. They are incredible corporate and family philanthropy tools, and in many cases, they can take the place of private foundations because the funds can be inherited by children and grandchildren.”

The Dee Howard Foundation grew from concept to full-fledged nonprofit over the course of Fagan’s tenure. Created to foster the growth of aerospace and aviation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programs in underserved areas of the community, the Dee Howard Foundation expanded its reach and scope over the years.

They launched a Drone Education Initiative to improve education on the burgeoning usage of unmanned aircraft systems. Dee Howard also became an integral partner with the College of Engineering at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). Fagan was instrumental in this partnership, helping to create the Dee Howard Fellowship at UTSA, as well as finding a home for some of Howard’s memorabilia and personal effects.

“Wayne and the Dee Howard Foundation helped to kick-start our aerospace engineering certificate program,” said Christopher Combs, the Aerospace Engineering Program Director at UTSA. “Part of what drew me to this position at UTSA in the first place was the clear commitment to aerospace education and the commitment … through the Dee Howard Endowed Fellowship position that I still hold.”

Fagan ultimately stepped away from the Dee Howard Foundation to help launch the Dee Howard International Education Foundation, as well as his own philanthropic effort with his family. The life experiences he shared with Howard and those that he experienced on his own all have come together and given him the vision and platform with which to help make the world a better place and to honor his friend. Through it all, he’s been a valued partner of the Area Foundation.

“The [Area Foundation] is a tremendous resource for the community,” noted Fagan. “I always speak highly of the Area Foundation to anyone and everyone every chance I can.”

The Area Foundation highlights the work, impact and partnership of the Dee Howard Foundation as part of Community Foundation Week 2024. Please click here to learn more about the many options the Area Foundation offers for philanthropists to give back to our community.

Eric Moreno is a contributor to the San Antonio Area Foundation Marketing & Communications Storytelling Ambassador Network.