LINCOLN — He spent 24 years coaching young people and being a part of their lives, and encouraging them to pursue their college dreams.

Now his community is helping ensure his daughter, Linzy, a seventh grader at Drew Middle School, can pursue her college dreams.

“We wanted to establish a scholarship fund in honor of and in memory of Coach Keith Howard, specifically to take care of his daughter, Linzy,” said Lincoln High School Principal Terry Roller.

Lincoln Head Coach Keith Howard passed away earlier this year.

“After he passed away, people started mailing in donations,” Roller said. “They saw the news stories, and wanted to give something to honor him. We didn’t want that to go to Lincoln High School, we wanted a scholarship for Linzy. We wanted to honor Coach Howard’s work in helping kids further their education and go to college.”

Roller said Howard mentored many students, including D.J. Howard, a heavily recruited senior at Lincoln.

“D.J. was very close to Coach Howard,” Roller said. “D.J. really trusted Keith to lead him in all aspects of his life, as well as on the football field.”

Lisa Howard, Keith Howard’s widow, said Keith Howard was always very careful not to give an indication of what Keith himself would do, but give the students everything they needed to make an informed decision.

“Keith was sincere about it, about his love for the kids,” she said. “There are hundreds of D.J.s out there.”

Lisa Howard said she has received countless letters from people whose lives were touched by Keith Howard.

“There are so many letters saying, ‘This is what he did; and I am where I am today because of that,’” she said.

Roller said after deciding to create a college fund, they began holding local fundraisers.

“We held a movie night, and sold wristbands, stickers, photographs of Keith Howard, t-shirts, and more,” he said. “And there is a tribute video of Keith Howard for sale as well.”

Roller said many individuals, organizations, associations, and others have donated money to the college fund.

Pam Stephens, branch manager at First National Bank of Talladega Lincoln Branch, where the college fund is held, said Keith Howard had an impact on her family.

“The last time I talked to Keith was at the Dixie Youth Baseball Tournament, and my son, Gregory, was with me,” she said. “Keith came up and patted him on the back and asked how long until he (Gregory) would be playing for him. Gregory was so excited that Keith had not overlooked him. That was Keith—he was kind to everyone.”

Stephens said to donate to the Linzy Howard College Fund, individuals may stop by any of the First National Bank of Talladega Branches (Talladega, Lincoln, Munford) or mail donations to P.O. Box 177, Lincoln, AL 35096. Checks should be made payable to the Linzy Howard College Fund.

Roller said the active fundraising for the college fund will run this school year until May 25, 2010.

“The active fundraising will end at the end of this school year, but individuals can still donate to the college fund after that date,” he said.

Chad Woodruff, an attorney who lives in Lincoln, said his father was a football coach and close friend of Keith Howard’s, and he is a close friend of the family.

“We will actually execute a trust, and the trust will be administered by Mike Turner,” Woodruff said.

Woodruff said Turner, who was an adoptive uncle to Keith Howard and longtime family friend, will serve as trustee for the college fund when Linzy reaches college age.

“We will still add to it,” Turner said. “There may be someone a few years from now that wants to help and donate to the fund.”

Roller said the college fund currently has approximately $8,000.

“Our goal is $30,000,” he said. “There are other fundraisers scheduled this year, and some individuals have pledged money.”

Roller said on Keith Howard’s birthday, Feb. 20, Lincoln High School will host “Dress Like Coach Day.”

“The students can pay to dress like Coach in a t-shirt and sweater vest, khakis, and unique tennis shoes,” Roller said. “Another fundraiser is to have students forego vending machines for one day, and donate the money they would have spent in the vending machines to the college fund. We try to be creative about it.”

Current Lincoln High School Coach and Athletic Director Chad Martin said he was very close to Keith Howard.

“We plan to give the leftover budget money from the Lincoln High School track team to the fund,” he said.

Roller said several other clubs are making donations as well.

Lisa Howard said the response has been overwhelming.

“We are very humbled by that, and want to thank everyone for their support,” she said. “I knew what he did. It wasn’t on the surface; it was very genuine with him.”

Lisa Howard said education was very important to Keith Howard.

“To know that because of what he did, that other people are doing that back for us, is a very good thing,” she said. “And Keith was very humble. It was never about him. It was always about what he could do for someone else.”

Lisa Howard said she was pleased that Turner would be the trustee for the college fund.

“If Keith could have picked who would manage the fund, it would have been Mike,” she said.

Linzy said she is excited about the college fund, and wants to attend Auburn University.

“I am not sure what I want to study,” she said.

Linzy said she has thought about teaching, becoming a veterinarian, going into marketing, and opening up a combination beauty and pet parlor where both pets and their owners could receive beauty treatments at the same time.

“Don’t pick what you want to do by money,” she said. “Pick what you love to do. That’s what I learned from Daddy.”