Former Clarkston mayor kept childhood nickname

From his childhood growing up in Craigmont until his death, Howard Clovis was always Irish.

A former Clarkston councilor and mayor, Clovis died Thursday. He was 82. Those alive today who remember Irish consider themselves lucky for having known him.

The nickname came from a school custodian who referred to Clovis and one of his friends by their heritage when he was growing up in Craigmont. "The name stuck," Clovis said in a Tribune article published in 1976.

Clovis became a Clarkston councilor in 1967 and served two terms before being elected mayor in 1975. He served two terms before stepping down to let his wife, Ronda, take a shot. She was elected to the council and served from 1985 to 1990. Irish became a councilor again in 1990 and was named mayor pro-tem in 1992, finishing his appointment in 1994.

His successor, Mayor Donna Engle, who served as a councilor when Clovis was in office, said he had a good sense of humor and a friendly disposition.

"He was just friends with everybody," Engle said. "Irish was always a really friendly, accommodating person. I'm really sorry to hear about his passing."

Clovis was also a fixture at the Seaport River runs, serving as the starter for 25 years, starting in 1979. He passed the pistol to former Tribune editorial page editor Bill Hall in 2004.

"I always kind of thought he had a good-natured, fair-minded nature in politics," Hall said. "He was quick to laugh and tell a joke. He made government a little more jolly than it is today."

Before jumping back into the political spectrum, Clovis served as bailiff for former Asotin County Superior Court Judge John Lyden, who was succeeded by William Acey in 2000.

"He did a really good job as a bailiff," Lyden said. "He was always positive. He was someone I could always talk to."

Former councilor Dale Laird served alongside Clovis in the early '90s, as well as Ronda - "Longer than I was on the council with Irish, actually," he said.

"He had some good ideas," Laird said. "He knew about city government. He got along really well with city employees. He wasn't a thorn in anybody's side."

Former Clarkston fire chief Robert Berreman started his career with the Clarkston Fire Department the same year Clovis was first elected councilor in 1967. He was a volunteer firefighter then, and retired from being fire chief in 1997.

"Irish was a very, very dedicated mayor and always had the community at heart," he said. "He was a wonderful man to work for. He will be definitely missed."

---

Macz may be contacted at bmacz@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2275.