Morning Journal/ Mary Ann Greier These street signs commemorate Charles Howard, a Civil War veteran, and his grandson, Howard A. Tibbs, who served with the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II.

SALEM — At the corner of North Howard Avenue and West Second Street, also known as Howard A. Tibbs Way, the street signs honor and represent a Salem family’s history of military service.

Charles Howard, the namesake for Howard Avenue, served with the Union Army during the Civil War and set up shop as a barber in Salem where he raised his family. His grandson, Howard A. Tibbs, served durin World War II in the U.S. Army Air Force in a unit of the Tuskegee Airmen, receiving the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal (Bronze replica) posthumously in March 2007.

On Memorial Day, family members gathered on that street corner to dedicate Howard A. Tibbs Way and re-dedicate Howard Avenue and also honor the contributions of two other sons of Salem, George Catlin and Joseph Cooper, who were also members of the Tuskegee Airmen.

Tibbs’ son Philip has been working on getting recognition for his father, a 1937 graduate of Salem High School, starting with city council giving West Second Street from Ellsworth to Jennings the honorary designation of Howard A. Tibbs Way.

City council made it official last year, with the new signs erected in May 2021. Howard Avenue had been named for Charles Howard, grandfather of Howard A. Tibbs, in 1906.

“I think it’s nice,” Philip said about the Howard A. Tibbs Way designation.

But he’s looking for even more recognition for his father, with a request to rename the Salem post office for him introduced, but still pending in the U.S. House of Representatives under HR 2473.

He’s also submitted a proposed Ohio Historical Marker to honor both his father and his great-grandfather, Charles Howard, that he would like placed at the corner of North Howard Avenue and Howard Tibbs Way (West Second Street).

According to the information for the marker, Charles Howard served nine months with the Grand Army of the Republic U.S. Union Army, Company F-32nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He then served as a recruiter in the New Carrollton, Ohio and Alliance, Ohio districts for the 5th and 27th regiments of the USCT (United States Colored Troops) from 1863 until July 25, 1865.

Howard Arthur Tibbs, whose mother Emma was a daughter to Charles, entered the service in 1943 in the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF 99th F.S. & 477th MCG-Colored), the units which would become known as the Tuskegee Airmen/Women.

According to a mayoral proclamation by Salem Mayor John Berlin, which was read during the dedication ceremony by Councilman Steve Faber, the Tuskegee Airmen/Woman represented the nation’s first African-American Military mission units/wing groups until 1946. An accomplished musician, Howard Arthur Tibbs played the tenor saxophone and performed with the military Army Air Force bands and USO shows at segregated bases and cities around the country, joining musicians such as the famous Duke Ellington on stage.

Berlin declared Monday, May 30, as Charles Howard-Howard Arthur Tibbs Day to honor both men.

During the ceremony, Base Honor Guard members Senior Airman Chukwudi Anekue, Staff Sgt. Edward Lugo, Airman First Class Ryan Stein and Airman First Class Dominique Parham of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton presented the American and U.S. Air Force flags. Two members of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternal organization, retired U.S. Army Col. Harold V. Anderson and Jeffrey Presley, also attended, with Anderson saying a few words. Howard Arthur Tibbs had been a member of Alpha Phi Alpha.

Also remembered were the two other sons of Salem, Joseph Cooper and George Catlin, also members of the Tuskegee Airmen. George Catlin’s nephew, retired U.S. Air Force Col. Robert Catlin, who is a cousin to Philip Tibbs, also spoke, saying the four men (Howard, Tibbs, Catlin and Cooper) represent families who have more than 150 years of being residents, business owners and homeowners in Salem.

He thanked the city officials and the Salem Historical Society for their involvement in the dedication ceremony and highlighted all the military service by numerous members of the families and some of his experiences in learning about the Tuskegee Airmen and meeting some of them who knew his Uncle George.

He admitted he got a little emotional talking about everything, about his ancestors, their contributions and this chance to honor them.

“It means a lot,” he said.