Hospital History

In 1925 the Willits Development Association began discussing the need for a modern hospital. Working with the American Legion Post #174, they sponsored an old fashioned celebration on the 4th of July. The proceeds were designated for the building of a Willits Community Hospital. Charles S. Howard, owner of a nearby ranch (as well as owner of the racehorse "Seabiscuit") was the first Grand Marshall of the Frontier Days Parade. The tradition of Frontier Days began as an annual fundraising event that has continued, non-stop to current times. Just two months before the second annual Frontier Days, the son of Charles Howard, 15 year old Frank R. Howard was injured in a very serious automobile accident. The doctor was summoned, but because of the seriousness of the boy's injuries, he was unable to save him without a "real hospital" or emergency equipment. The tragedy moved Charles Howard to donate the "tremendous sum" of $30,000 for the construction of Frank R. Howard Memorial Hospital. The ground breaking took place in 1927 and the first patient was admitted in 1928.

In 1938, the number one newsmaker wasn’t Franklin Roosevelt, Clark Gable or Lou Gehrig. It was an undersized, crooked-legged racehorse named Seabiscuit. A cavalry veteran and one-time bicycle mechanic named Charles Howard bought Seabiscuit at yard sale price in the sultry summer of 1936. He enlisted the help of trainer Tom Smith, a mute horse whisperer and a jockey named Red Pollard. Overnight Seabiscuit became one of history’s most dominating athletes.

Frank R. Howard Foundation

The Frank R Howard Foundation was established in 1966 with the objective of retaining high quality hospital services in Northern Mendocino County. As owners of the Howard Hospital facilities, the foundation strives to assure that a hospital will always be available to those in need of an acute care facility.

At the 75th anniversary celebration for the hospital in May of 2003, the foundation announced plans to build a new Hospital in Willits. For more information about the foundation, or how you can participate in the fundraising efforts for the new Howard Memorial Hospital, please visit the foundation’s website. 

Frank R Howard Foundation

The Story of Seabiscuit

Seabiscuit was shipped more than 50,000 railroad miles to deliver overpowering performances and to smash speed records from coast to coast. Race fans choked local roads, poured out of special cross-country "Seabiscuit Limited" trains and packed into racetracks in record shattering numbers. They sold Seabiscuit wallets, Seabiscuit hats and there were at least 8 Seabiscuit parlor games. Seabiscuit was a California based horse and his only real competition was the exquisitely handsome War Admiral, a blue-blooded horse "from coast to coast."

In the fall of 1938, War Admiral and Seabiscuit were brought together on Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Track. By this time, the contest had become a national obsession. Over 30,000 fans packed the grandstands, another 10,000 were shunted to the infield. Fans that couldn’t get in climbed every rooftop, tree limb and telephone pole for a mile. People across the nation listened on their radios. Although War Admiral was the heavy favorite, most fans were pulling for the underdog, Seabiscuit.

Just prior to the race Marcela Howard pinned a medal of St. Christopher, patron saint of travelers to Seabiscuit’s saddlecloth. "This will bring you luck," she whispered. It was all Saints Day.

At the starting bell, War Admiral and Seabiscuit burst off the line at precisely the same instant. The two horses hurtled past the grandstands side by side, their irregular strides settling into long open lunges, their speed building and building. As the race progressed both horses fell into synch. They rubbed shoulders and hips, heads snapping up and reaching out together, legs gathering up and unfolding in unison. But then the crowd gasped. War Admiral, straining with all he had, was losing ground, Seabiscuit’s muzzle forged past, then his throat, then his neck. As the finish line came into site, War Admiral clung to Seabiscuit’s flanks for a few more strides and then began to drop away. Seabiscuit sailed into history four lengths in front.