Supervisor John Howard is a lifelong resident of the Gila Valley and fifth generation farmer. When he retired in 2014, he and his wife Jenny started a retail/restaurant business in Safford. During his farming career, John served on several boards including Farm Service Agency for 9 years (chairman for 3), Graham Canal board for 12 years (chairman for 5), Safford Valley Coop Gin board, Farm Bureau member, and Chamber of Commerce Board member.
Following his retirement, John became active in his community serving in different capacities such as:
- Safford Downtown Association – Vice President
- Substance Abuse Coalition – Executive Board member
- The House of Hope sober living home – Chairman of the Board
- House of Hope fundraising committee – Chairman
John and his wife Jenny have been married for 17 years and have 8 children, and 19 grandchildren. Jenny also serves on the Thatcher Town Council and is construction manager for Accelerated Construction out of Benson, Arizona, along with running their business. John’s interests include his family, golfing, and the outdoors.