Longtime 'Record' Reporter Mark Howat Dies at 80

(AP)Mark Howat, a longtime writer and editor for The Record who was well-known for his restaurant reviews, has died. He was 80.

Howat, who worked at the newspaper for nearly 45 years, died Friday at his home in Surf City after battling complications from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease.

Known as a prolific and versatile writer with a no-nonsense temperament, Howat joined the paper in 1947 as a freelance writer while still a student at Rutgers.

He eventually decided to stay in journalism and did not immediately return to school, but later graduated cum laude from Rider College in 1952.

He got a full-time job at the paper that year and quickly rose through the ranks with promotions to writing, copy editing and editing positions in nearly every section.