51st Admiral Windwagon Smith
Alan Howarter’s journey with Riverfest began 45 years ago when he volunteered as a purple shirt in the festival’s food court, initially intending to give back for just nine days of fun. Decades later, his commitment to the festival remains unwavering. A passionate participant, Howarter has competed in over fifteen 10K River Runs and was part of a “poorman’s team” that raced in four years of the festival’s bathtub races, even securing a third-place finish. His team proudly claims to have built the first propeller-driven bathtub boat in Riverfest history.
A proud native of Dodge City, Kansas, Howarter graduated from Dodge City High School in 1974 before attending St. Mary’s of the Plains College and later transferring to Wichita State University, where he earned his degree in business administration in 1978 with an emphasis in accounting and awarded Magna Cum Laude honors.Howarter launched his career in public accounting with the Wichita office of Elmer Fox, Westheimer & Company, joining their audit department. He earned his CPA license in Kansas in 1980 and later in Arizona. As the firm evolved into Grant Thornton, Howarter’s leadership flourished. He served as lead campus recruiter, an instructor for the firm’s National Training Programs, and eventually Partner and Audit Department Head of the Wichita office.
After a distinguished career, he retired from Grant Thornton in 2004. In 2006, Howarter took on a new challenge, joining Vess Oil Corporation as Vice President of Financial Reporting. In this role, he oversees accounting for more than 60 related entities, including SEC reporting for two publicly sponsored royalty trusts—a position he continues to hold today.
Beyond his professional career, Howarter has been a pillar of the Wichita community. He has served on multiple nonprofit boards, often as treasurer, including the American Heart Association, March of Dimes, Heartspring, St. Vincent de Paul Endowment Association, Wichita Public Library Foundation, Great Plains USBC Bowling Association, Petroleum Accountants Society of Kansas, and the Kansas Society of CPAs.