Howard Swain (article)
Press Club Director
By Heather Heier Lane | Encounter Magazine, Omaha Publications
Howard T. Swain is a busy guy—and as director of the annual Omaha Press Club show, things are going to get a lot busier as he prepares for this years event on March 28th. Always an exciting night, this year’s show promises to once again be filled with laughs at the expense of area newsmakers. If you are an elected official, head of a company, or a well known Omahan who happened to do anything silly, or even remotely stupid, you can rest assured that you will be gently reminded of it come show time. Ok, maybe no so gently. “All for fun, not fun for all … depending on what you may have done,” Swain says with a laugh.
The Omaha Press Club show is an event that can best be described as a satirical review, “we sing, we dance, we level some shots,” Swain says. He points out that this year when the show takes place they will have the names of the candidates running for mayor. This, in addition to coming off an election year, promises to make things extra entertaining. Swain explains that the show has a bit of an edge to it. But no matter what is said he points out that everyone has a sense of humor about it all. According to Swain there are no hurt feelings and everyone seems to like playing along. Perhaps the reason everyone is so willing to be made fun of is the fact that the show is done in the name of fun—and fundraising. Each year the Omaha Press Club raises $50,000 for journalism scholarships.
An Omaha native, Swain is proud to help raise funds for the residents of the city he calls home. In addition to his work with the Press Club, Swain is also a board member of the Diamond Foundation of Nebraska. The foundation’s mission is to make a difference through music and education, and it focuses its time and volunteer energy on raising funds for the kids of Camp Kindle. A week-long summer camp for kids affected by HIV/AIDS, project Kindle provides 100 percent of the cost for camp to each camper.
This busy fundraiser is also a born performer who got his start on the stage, not behind the scenes. Yet Swain had trimmed his schedule a bit in recent years, not committing to many acting roles in order to spend quality time with his parents, Edmae and Howard Swain Sr. An only child, Swain says he lucked out when it came to parents. When they started to get older he quietly realized it was his time to take care of them. Swain is grateful he took that time. When his father passed away in June 2007, and when his mother died last September, he knew he had truly celebrated his parents and shown them his appreciation and love.
Swain’s mother was a groundbreaking woman of great achievement. Edmae Swain was the first black female principal of a school in Nebraska, and the first black principal of an all white school in Omaha. When she accepted the principal position at Jackson School in Central Omaha back in the late 1960’s, even her janitors were white. Remarkably Swain cannot remember there being a moment of doubt or tension regarding her decision to take the job, and if there were any negative comments tossed her way, she never spoke of them.
Swain says he always remembers his mother saying, “If you live and work, and draw a salary from a community, you must always find time to give back to that community in some fashion.” Clearly a strong woman with a deep appreciation for her 33 years as an educator, it was no surprise to Swain when at her funeral he saw most of her surviving teachers from Jackson School. They were there to celebrate her life, and her accomplishments as an administrator—who just happened to prove that the right person is the best person for the job, regardless of gender or race.
Perhaps it was his mother’s moxie that paved the way for Swain to be comfortable in his role skewering the locals. No matter where he finds his creative energy, Swain clearly relishes Omaha and all it has to offer. His family provided him with a love of life, cultural events and philanthropy—and Omaha is lucky to have residents like Swain who are so committed to their families and the communities they live in.
Skills/Interests: writing, freelance, arts, family
