LA GRANDE — Four decades ago a white push-button landline phone hung on the west kitchen wall of the Imbler home of John Howard.

An inauspicious lifeline, it complemented the standard landline phone on the east wall of Howard’s kitchen.

Howard never wanted the west wall phone to ring, yet it rang more times than he can remember over the course of about 10 years in the 1970s and early 1980s.

Each time Howard answered it, and on some occasions he was greeted by voices that were difficult to understand because they were infused with fear and terror.

It was a fire phone, a landline that made Howard’s home the equivalent of an early-day 911 center. Howard was one of six Imbler firefighters who had fire phones in their homes, all connected to the same line with an identical number.

It was the emergency number everyone in the Imbler-Summerville area needed to call to report fires or medical emergencies. Howard and the other individuals who answered were responsible for announcing via radio there was an emergency all local firefighters had to respond to. Howard said there was enormous stress when he answered a fire phone call because of the importance of writing down the right address of a fire.

“There was tremendous pressure,” Howard said.

Howard’s fire phone, now archaic in today’s digital age, vanished years ago, but not his commitment to public service — a commitment that remains as strong as the basalt in the face of Mount Emily.

“I believe that when you live in a community, you need to become a part of it and to be engaged. It is the right thing to do,” Howard said.

His is a commitment that has never wavered during the twists and turns of a career that includes 12 years as a volunteer firefighter, 16 years as a member of the Union County Board of Commissioners and 33 years as a real estate broker.

Howard’s career has reached its homestretch, for he sold his real estate company, John Howard & Associates, in early February and is now tying up loose ends as a broker. He has no plans to renew his state real estate license, which is good through the end of this year.

“I will let it expire,” Howard said.

What he will not let expire is his dedication to others and his community.

People like Ashley O’Toole, a broker with the former John Howard & Associates, said that Howard’s concern for others in his community is what drives him.

“He has a heart of gold. He always gives back big-time,” O’Toole said. “He is always willing to reach out to others to help them be successful.”

O’Toole also credits Howard with having an ability to instill a sense of well-being in others.

“He has a way of making everyone feel important,” O’Toole said.

Ted Kramer, who worked under Howard for many years with John Howard & Associates before retiring a year ago, agrees.

“He really is a good person, an all-encompassing good person. His whole being is about giving back to the community,” Kramer said.

Among the many things Howard has done for his community is providing support for the Eastern Oregon University Booster Club. Howard is a lifetime member after making a $10,000 donation. He earlier served as the chief sponsor of the Tail Gate Zone program at EOU, donating $2,500 a year for five years to Eastern.

Howard also makes donations to organizations including Little League, for which he has sponsored teams annually for more than 10 years.

“When anyone needs help, he makes it happen,” Kramer said.

This was evident during Howard’s time on the Union County Board of Commissioners, which began in 1986. One of the first projects he was involved with as a commissioner was posting road signs for all roads in Union County. This project was made possible by federal funding every county in Oregon had received for this purpose.

Howard said that at the time there were numerous country roads that didn’t have identifying signs. He had a firsthand appreciation of the need for such signs for as an Imbler-area firefighter the absence of signs could make it difficult to find the scene of a fire.

“We would look for smoke,” Howard said.

Fortunately, he added, “We all knew where everyone lived.”

Firefighters were also aided by residents who stood out in roadways to flag down emergency responders.

One of the most memorable moments of Howard’s 16-year tenure as a county commissioner was attending a bill signing ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House. President Bill Clinton signed a bill that provided federal funding for rural schools and roads, and Howard was invited to the ceremony because of the role he played in lobbying for the legislation.

“It was one of the highlights of my time as a commissioner,” Howard said.

He still has one of the pens Clinton used to sign the bill.

“I had it framed,” Howard said.

A total of 15 pens were needed by Clinton because he used each pen to write a portion of his signature on the bill document. The pens were then presented to the 15 people who stood behind Clinton during the ceremony.

Howard served on the Union County Board of Commissioners through 2002, when he lost his bid to be elected to a fifth term. While the loss was a disappointment, he said the defeat inspired him to start his own real estate company in 2007, one which was quite successful.

“I am in a much better position financially today than I would have been if I had not lost the election,” Howard said.

The success of his business was well-deserved and hard-earned, for Howard has a work ethic that is second to none, Kramer said.

“He is a workaholic. He works constantly,” Kramer said, noting that Howard often worked at night and on weekends.

Burning the midnight oil never took a toll, Kramer said, on Howard’s good-natured personality.

“He made it a very pleasant place to work,” Kramer said.

His business’ legacy continues, rebranded High Country Realty Professionals by new owners Lana Anderson and Micah Anderson.

“I have high confidence that (the Andersons) will take the torch and be successful in business and in supporting their communities,” Howard told The Observer earlier this month.

Howard credits the role his wife of 47 years, Deb, has played in the success of his business and in helping his life stay on a positive course.

“She has been so instrumental,” he said. “We are a complete team in everything we do.”

The Howards, after John’s retirement, are looking forward to spending more time with their sons, Derek, of La Grande, and Dwight, of Prairie City, and their seven grandchildren.

Plans on the couple’s agenda also call for a trip to Peru later this year.