I still can't believe he's gone. I talked to him last on Wednesday. Goodbye, Howard. I'm really sorry you never got to see the Cubs win the World Series.

Damn.

Just damn.

This is sad and terrible news. In addition to being the best teacher of copy editing I have ever encountered, his classes were a joy. And he was a fun person to be around.

The fraternities and sororities at Eastern Illinois University have lost a great friend and mentor. Howard Price helped to supply the questions for the Collegiate Bowl competition held during Greek Week each year, and was an advisor to several of the fraternities during his time at EIU. His sincere interest in students and their welfare extended far beyond the classroom and faculty office hours.

Matt and Kristina, you two did a wonderful job on this article, describing Howard Price's quirks as well as providing facts about his personal and professional life. I appreciate this because he deserves it.

I had Price for three classes: Copy editing, journalism and democracy, and international journalism. He helped me switch majors from English to journalism, and became my advisor. I wrote a column about him for the Verge in the spring of 2002 and, true to what James Tidwell said in this article, he was a private man in many ways; he became very upset with me. But he eventually forgave me in his own way, and said his cat Princess liked the column :)

He will be missed.

I still to this day use the copy editing skills Howard taught me during my undergraduate work. At first I didn't know what to think of this off-the-wall character, but then my mind quickly changed as he became one of my favorite teachers at EIU.

You will be missed, and I feel sorry for those students who will never get the chance to be enlightened by your knowledge. Good bye Howard.

What a tragedy. You will be missed Howard. Who will take care of his precious cats?!

Howard was more than a great teacher, he was a great man. He would always take extra time after class to talk sports, life or whatever with me. Some of my favorite moments at Eastern were joking around in Howard's classroom. He will be missed and I hope he's not upset with what I'm sure are numerous errors in my posting.

Goodbye Howard

Howard was a colorful character who will be remembered well through anecdotes and laughter. He was a comrade to students - someone who would drive with DEN sports reporters to away football games.

But he was also feared and respected. He was a passionate journalist whose demeanor drove home how important copy editing was to the craft. His hair-trigger temper would explode over ridiculous mistakes by copy-editing students. I recall him yelling and spelling out "I-B-L-E" over and over again after a spelling goof up - though to this day I don't remember what word he was spelling.

He was driven. Long ago he was incredibly overweight, but through exercise - including intense stints on a Rec Center treadmill - he lost all that excess weight.

He had a distinct voice. Many will admiringly joke that they have "millins and billins" of good memories of Howard. He was someone who would laugh at you and with you and let you laugh at him (St. Louis Cardinals fans who were raised in Illinois should cheer for Canada in the Olympics, he'd say).

I smile when I remember Howard. He was a good man. I feel fortunate he taught at EIU.

Howard was a very kind and spirited man. He was also the most dedicated Illini Baseball fan in the world! Rest in peace Howard.

A sad day for the University. Everyone who came into contact with Howard has lost a great teacher and friend, but even more so a great man. I still use the things that he taught me both in and out of class on a daily basis. His was a class that I looked to forward to as much as our conversations at Monier Field. Howard will truly be missed.

I was greatly saddened over the weekend to hear about Howard's death. As others have said, you could never say anyone cared more for his or her students while they were at Eastern or after they had careers in journalism. My condolences go out to the EIU journalism community for losing a genuine, colorful, one-of-a-kind figure in Howard. He'll definitely be missed.

Startled and deeply affected by his death, I want to pay homage to what Mr. Price has taught me in class, but moreover in life! I couldn't believe that this article today in the paper was true! My prayers and i my deepest sorrows are with you Mr. Price! He affected many lives with his virtues and the way he would portray the world through his enthusiastic eyes for his students to see!

I will miss you, Howard!

Startled and deeply affected by his death, I want to pay homage to what Mr. Price has taught me in class, but moreover in life! I couldn't believe that this article today in the paper was true! My prayers and i my deepest sorrows are with you Mr. Price! He affected many lives with his virtues and the way he would portray the world through his enthusiastic eyes for his students to see!

I will miss you, Howard!

R.I.P. Howard Price

THanks for the memories and the education! I promise to only use commas when absolutely necessary.

I hope you and Paul Harvey are shring stories about the good old days.

If you were a journalism student at Eastern, a writer at the DEN, Howard was yours. No j students or school paper reporters at any other university in the world had a professor like Howard, and I will stake my life on that. He brought unique life and color to the J Department that cannot be replaced.

And it's quite possible that no one in the world can replace Howard's sense of humor.

Sad news, truly.

As a former Illini Baseball player, I can honestly say that Howard will be greatly missed. His enthusiasm for the team and pure joy in being around the game will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, Howard.

I had the privilege of having Howard Price in Journalistic Media in Society this semester. He was an amazing teacher and a great man. I'm sure we'll all miss his antics and his favorite phrase "You'll be sorry when you get your grade." I don't think I would have chosen to have another class for my senior seminar...I won't ever forget the sports facts and all of his videos that he showed us, oh VHS of course. It was a pleasure to have him my last semester at Eastern and I am very honored to be a part of the last class that he taught here. He will be greatly missed.

I am a current student of Professor Price, this week was to be the last week of my senior sem. While I didn't get to know him long the time I had with him was filled with laughter.

"You'll be sorry when you get your grade"

All family members of Howard are most appreciative of this fine piece of journalistic workmanship, and the outpouring of tributes to his work, dedication, generosity and spirit. Students he taught surely realize his memory will best be served by their continued striving to excel. He'd be especially pleased if any of them plagiarize his humor.

My family met "The Professor" when my son, Josh Landon, became a member of Eastern Illinois Baseball. We have very fond memories of the baseball trips and dinners that we all shared together. The professor was able to make as many trips as the parents did. Many times he asked that we call him "Howard", but in our respect to him, we always referred to him as "The Professor", even in our introduction of him to others. Our daughters have also gone to Eastern and when we called on "The Professor", he was always willing to assist us or meet with us. Professor, I hope your famous noise makers will be in attendance as part of your memorial service. To his family, we are sorry for the passing of your loved one. Professor, rest in peace. Thanks for the memories. Dennis, Lori, Josh, Jilyan & Jayla Landon

Just wanted to add on to what everybody else has said. Howard was definitely high on the list of most interesting people I have ever met. I never thought anything but the best of him and even in his "temper" to me there was almost an underlying sense of not really being angry but just trying to motivate.

I was very saddened by the news and think it's unfortunate many students there will not be able to learn from him and his quirky, but effective, teaching style.

More than two decades ago Howard took time to teach me about copy editing even though I didn't take class. He was also willing to impart his expertise when I was editor in chief of the DEN. God Bless Howard.

Hopefully Howard will rest in peace knowing the students he touched are better copy editors today for the unconventional way he got us to understand the power of the perfection.

My heart-felt condolences go out to EIU, the JOU department and Howard's family.

I had Howard for my Sports in the Media class, and he was a great guy. I'd say he was easily one of the most influential professors I had at EIU. A great character who took his work seriously, but knew how to lighten up a room with a joke. The university lost a great man and teacher in Howard Price and I'm so glad that I had the privilege to know him. Great article and very nice comments that I'm sure he'd be happy to hear.

A truly dedicated and devoted man to his many passions.

Howard, you will be missed and were one of a kind! I felt honored to be your student, and for your allowing me to assist you to setup arrangements when your cat passed on in 2003. It was then that I saw the depth of your heart and care for your friend, and fully realized what a warm and terrific person.

Dear Matt,

I wanted to write to thank you for the piece you wrote about our uncle, brother, brother-in-law, uncle-in-law, Howie.

I love the picture you chose- and the the different accounts from his colleagues and students, of his devotion, humor, eccentricity, idiosyncratic profound intelligence. He was at once an avid hobbyist, internationalist, localist, and activist. I love the cat-sitting story. Lucky for all involved that the sitter managed to keep Princess alive.

I am delighted and so so deeply touched at how you found so many ways to appreciate my uncle and described so well so many facets of his person.

I think it brings us, his family, a feeling of warmest satisfaction having your appreciation of Howie reflected in his immediate community and to us, so frankly and with such charm. No more fitting a eulogy to my Uncle Howie than the journalistic accounts of his life as a teacher of journalism.

How you collectively describe him is so true. Perhaps as his family we didn't get to see him shine in his professional capacity (though we knew he did, and that he loved his job, and that he had found a happy niche).

I would add, as his niece, that that same humor and enthusiasm and integrity that he brought to his workplace and to his students, he brought to his family. He was no doubt our family's champion punster. He was the most devoted son and nephew, inscrutably humble, trustworthy, constant, and honest to his dying day. He loved all of us as best he knew. He is so much a part of us, where we come from and the landscape of our lives. We love him and will miss him always.

A heartfelt thank you from all of us.

--
Miriam Rahav, MD

Echoing the many comments already written about Howard, I too, am saddened to learn of his transition. He was a wonderful man and an awesome teacher/mentor. All that I've learned about copy editing, I learned from dear Howie! He insisted that all of his students stayed abreast of current events, thus he required each of us to read a newspaper daily -- we had to because we knew that we would be tested on world affairs. To this day (thanks to Howard), I am still an avid reader and conditioned to read headlines, if nothing else, each day. I also recall Howard traveling to New York and bringing back David Letterman T-Shirts. I was one of the lucky ones that received the highly coveted shirt. I still have that shirt, (after more than 20 years). Thank you Howard for impacting my life and influencing the lives of so many. And to Howards family, may the many pleasant memories of this great man bring you comfort.

There aren't enough words to express what Howard meant to me and my journalism career.

I arrived at EIU in 1984, and I was in one of Howard's first editing classes. Though I have picked up some tips along the way in my 23-year career, Howard definitely played the biggest role in my success as an editor.

Howard was a great editor and professor, but he was an even better friend. He truly cared about his students -- in and out of the classroom.

I have many stories to share about Howard, but I'll relate three that stand out.

Mr. Price often rewarded his students with T-shirts that he purchased on his worldwide travels. I never got a Letterman T-shirt, but I always coveted one from the 1985 Live Aid concert. I asked Howard many times for the Live Aid T-shirt before I finally secured one. I'm not sure what I did to deserve the shirt, but it must have been important because I still have the T-shirt today.

During the 1984-85 school year, I attended a conference in Ames, Iowa, with Howard and several students. Howard's beloved Cubs squandered one of their best chances to win the World Series in 1984 after blowing a lead in the NLCS against San Diego. On the ride home, we listened to a radio broadcast of a fictitious Fall Classic between the Cubs and Detroit Tigers. I can't remember who won the fictitious Series, but Howard was as happy as a child on Christmas morning listening to the broadcast.

After I graduated from EIU, I made a few surprise visits to Charleston. I remember checking Howard's schedule and showed up in one of his editing classes unannounced. I usually sat in the first row and proceeded to take my place front and center.

Howard walked in and didn't see me right away. He asked a question, and I raised my hand to answer. The look on his face when he realized it was me was priceless.

Howard, you'll never be forgotten.

Howie was a great professor, inspiration, and friend. He had a passion for people that is very rare and I often remember the times we spent discussing the Mets and Red Sox. Howie motivated me to become a superb student. Throughout my life, I will always credit Howard Price for being a major inspiration. Howie, thanks for everything, and you will be missed.