Francis William Howard (June 21, 1867 – January 18, 1944) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.

[1] Howard was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Columbus by Bishop John Ambrose Watterson on June 16, 1891.

[4] He also served as secretary (1904–1928), president (1928–1936), and member of the advisory board (1936–1944) of the National Catholic Educational Association.

[3] He received his episcopal consecration on the following July 15 from Archbishop Henry K. Moeller, with Bishops James Joseph Hartley and John A. Floersh serving as co-consecrators.

Following the 1937 Ohio River flood, he opened all Catholic churches in Covington for relief purposes.