Richard Alden Howard (July 1, 1917 – September 18, 2003) was an American botanist and plant taxonomist.
Howard, who served as director of Arnold Arboretum between 1954 and 1977, was known for his work in tropical biology and as author of the 6-volume Flora of the Lesser Antilles (1974–1989).
Howard worked on the Icacinaceae plant family and in 1939 he received a fellowship which supported his graduate study.
[2] After graduation, Howard attempted to enlist in the United States Navy, but was rejected because he exceeded their maximum height requirement.
[2] He was accepted into the United States Army Air Corps as an Aviation Physiologist.