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Howard Melton Is a Man of Many Interests
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by Todd Fuqua
Dr. Howard W. Melton (BBA 65) considers himself fortunate to have attended an Art History class at ENMU that introduced him to modern design and everyday objects’ functionality. He saw that even the most mundane things could be imbued with beauty, which fostered future careers and hobbies.
This experience is partly why this longtime Chicago-based lawyer developed a side publishing career. He writes on various topics, including social accounting, tax law and toy vehicles. His new book, “American Compacts of the Art Deco Era,” showcases his long fascination with design.
Howard explained, “I was introduced to modern design in college. An advantage of living in a city such as Chicago is the fact that modern architecture and design exist everywhere around us. It continuously intrigues me.”
At an antique show, Howard and his wife, Jo Anne, were introduced to the world of powder compacts, those little containers designed to be kept in purses that have a small amount of makeup and an applicator for touch-ups throughout the day. These particular compacts reflected the Art Deco design movement from the 1920s and early 1930s. Howard and Jo Anne were fascinated by these small artistic objects and began collecting them. Ultimately, he collaborated with fellow enthusiast, Michael Mont, to write their recently published book on the subject.
One of Dr. Melton’s books on collectibles.
“American Compacts of the Art Deco Era” is one of seven books authored or co-authored by Howard. He has an eclectic publication list that demonstrates a mind that is always exploring. This comes from his family’s belief in and love for life-long learning: Howard’s father, Dr. Howard B. Melton was a longtime member of the ENMU faculty and administration.
Example of an art deco makeup compact.
After graduating from ENMU, Howard received his J.D. in Law from the University of Texas at Austin. Subsequently, he earned both his M.S. in Management and his Ph.D. in Accounting and Information Systems from Northwestern University.
Professionally, Dr. Melton’s background includes being a university professor, senior business executive, entrepreneur and author. Beyond legal experience, he has organized, built and managed several multi-million-dollar businesses, including national consulting organizations and a nationally recognized retail chain. He also continues to be very involved in civic affairs in Chicago.
