Candidate for
Judge; Magisterial District Court; District 05-02-47

Howard W. Organ was born in the City of Pittsburgh, the first of six siblings, born to Howard E. Organ, a retired Port Authority Transit Driver, and gospel recording artist the late Evangelist Josephine K. Wallace Organ. Howard grew up briefly in the Pittsburgh's, St Clair Village area, and then his family moved to Beltzhoover area where he attended Beltzhoover Elementary, then Knoxville Junior High School, and then went on to South Hills High School where he was actively involved in civics and voted President of the South Hills High School Student Council, and voted Secretary of Pennsylvania's State Student Council He was also a talented basketball player.

After graduating from South Hills High School, Howard went on to attend Shippensburg University, where he majored in sociology, and minored in History, with an interest in pre-law, he also attended the University of Pittsburgh where he majored in Administration of Justice, and then went on to the School for the Minor Judiciary at Wilson College.

In 1974, Howard worked for Star Center Outreach, as a counselor for children at risk. He was a counselor at Camp Ligonier for 10 days in the woods with the toughest gang members in the City. Howard counseled families and children when in crisis. Howard also visited homes to help students, school administration and teachers to cut down on absenteeism, tardiness and to enhance the student's academic success. Howard's biggest accomplishment at Star Center Outreach was mentoring at-risk youngsters.

1976, Howard begun his 23 year career with Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. First, working as a clerk in the Registration Department at 3333 Forbes Avenue, in Oakland, where he processed police reports and other court related documents. Howard then was asked to become a hall marshal for juvenile court. He then went on to serve as a personal tip staff for the Honorable Judge, Doris Smith, and then J. Jaffe, serving as a liaison between the court, press, and public. Howard managed the daily court docket of delinquent and dependent cases, swearing in of witnesses and procuring files and exhibits for court, this is where Howard learned court decorum, and how to run a court room smooth and efficient. He then, worked in the Register of Wills Office, under Jay Costa, processing applications for marriage license, logging and registering wills, and other legal documents, also, outlining policy and procedure pertaining to the operation of the Register of Wills Office. Howard was then appointed to court/community liaison for the "volatile" Johnny Gamage Case, having done such a good job, Howard was appointed to Night Court Manager, by then, President Judge, Robert E. Dauer. Howard was the first African American to be appointed to this position. Howard's philosophy for night court was to make it more welcoming and less intimidating. His focus was to add a personal touch as opposed to the coldness and uncertainty of coming to court, and stills today, feels strongly about his philosophy.

In 1982, Howard worked as a part-time Safety officer for Pittsburgh Public Schools for 14 years, and courageously disarmed a student waving a loaded and cocked .25 caliber automatic pistol, saving nearly 20 students from what could have been a massacre situation. In a separate incident Howard intervened when a student was being pistol-whipped by a group of five masked students. Howard again under gun fire courageously steps in to save a boy. Currently, Howard has been hit with the current economic crisis that has risen across this nation and is laid off from Auberle's Education Center, where he was a teacher's assistant to at-risk and special needs children.

Howard W. Organ is a member of Big Brothers and Sisters, and was awarded volunteer of the year by the YMCA of Pittsburgh, a certified community mediator (Brashear Association), member of the Masonic FAM Lodge, Member of V.I.P Volunteer in Probation, and lastly a member of Macedonia Baptist Church. Howard is a true a public servant.