School of Business names 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas School of Business will honor Jay Howard with its 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award.

Howard will receive the award for his dedication to business excellence, community service and commitment to KU on April 20 during a private reception.

He is the owner and president of JDH Asset Management LLC and JDH Investments LLC in Austin, Texas. Howard grew up in Salina and graduated from Salina Central High School. He earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from the School of Business in 1979, and he earned a law degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1982.

Howard previously was the co-founder and president of First Capital Partners Inc. in Dallas. He is a member of KU Endowment’s board of trustees executive committee, serves as chair of its investment committee and is a board member of its West District Improvement Company. He previously was on KU Alumni Association’s board of directors, serving as national chair from 2010 to 2011, and he was a steering committee member for KU’s Far Above campaign. Howard is the former president and founder of the Austin Boys & Girls Club Foundation and has served on the Boys & Girls Club of Austin board of directors.

In 2014, Howard received the Fred Ellsworth Medallion from KU Alumni Association for his extraordinary service to KU.

The School of Business established the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1998 to honor outstanding graduates. To date, 66 alumni have been recognized with the award. Previous recipients include businessman and investor David Booth, Deloitte’s global chief operating officer Frank Friedman, entrepreneur and investor Tim Barton and Cerner Corp. co-founder Cliff Illig.

Award recipients are chosen from the nominations of other alumni and the Dean’s Advisory Board. Candidates are selected based on their business success and service to their communities and to KU.