MONTGOMERY, Ala. | Brian Howard, Assistant Athletics Director for Communications at Alabama A&M University, will receive the Southwestern Athletic Conference Alumni Association's Charles "Chuck" Prophet Wagon Master Award.  The award is presented annually to an employee at a conference member institution or an employee at the conference office, who best exemplifies Chuck's spirit, dedication, and loyalty to his or her school and the conference.
 
 "I am extremely honored to receive this award," said Howard.  "It is something I am extremely happy, grateful and blessed to receive."
 
Howard, who is in his third year at Alabama A&M, has spent the last 25 years in the college athletic media relations business.  A native of Akron, Ohio, he graduated from Firestone High School in 1995 and received his bachelor's degree from Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio in 2000.
 
An avid soccer player for 13 years, including his first two years of college, Howard's interest in athletics was kindled early in his educational career.  While in college, Howard had internships at WEWS News Channel 5 in Cleveland, Ohio; 97.5 WONE Radio in Akron and the Akron Beacon Journal newspaper, all sports related.  While at Ashland College, he remained very active in the radio and television department, where he served as a sports anchor for the campus television. 
 
Since graduating from college, Howard's professional career in athletic media relations has taken him to a myriad of different colleges, universities and university league offices. During his first 13 years working, he had stops at Lincoln University (PA), the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference office, Alabama State University, Grambling State University, Florida A&M University, Ouachita Baptist University and Norfolk State University.
 
One of his most memorable highlights came in 2008 when he was a part of the Ouachita Baptist baseball program which won the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Championship and finished runner-up in the National Championship.  
 
Howard has also worked in sports media relations at Young Harris College in Young Harris, GA, LeTourneau University in Longview, TX and the University of West Alabama in Livingston, AL
 
Tickets for the 23^rd Annual Legends Awards and Roast are $75 dollars each, with a table of eight (8) selling for $600 dollars. Tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/swac-alumni-association-annual-legends-banquet-and-roast-tickets-1986591428440?aff=oddtdtcreator  , or Zelle – swacalumni@gmail.com .
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Association's NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) program and will benefit a male and a female athlete from SWAC institutions.
 
ABOUT THE SWAC ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
 The purpose of the SWAC Alumni Association, which was founded on December 10, 1999, in Birmingham, Ala., is to support Southwestern Athletic Conference events, support the conference's athletics heritage and help preserve its legacy of competitive excellence. Former student-athletes from any SWAC-sponsored sport and from all current or former member institutions are eligible for membership, as are coaches, staff members as well as game officials, employees of the conference office and supporters of SWAC athletics.