Bob Howard, a Hall of Fame football coach with nearly five decades of memories and accomplishments rivaled by very few in the history of Iowa, is retiring at Webster City High School — some 40 miles away from where it all began.

WCHS activities director Jess Howard confirmed Howard’s decision on Wednesday evening. Howard told his players earlier in the week that he was ending a 47-year career on the sidelines, with the last 17 coming as the leader of the Lynx.

“Bob Howard has been a constant force in Webster City for the past 17 football seasons, molding not only football players, but all athletes that have walked the halls at WCHS,” Jess Howard said. “He has taught our athletes how to succeed not only on the gridiron, but in life. He has turned the young men that suit up for the opportunity to run out to the Bells on Friday nights in the fall into dedicated, loyal, and determined men that understand the sacrifice, effort, and glory of success.

“Bob came to Webster City and changed a culture in athletics by being the example of what he expected his athletes to be. He has spent countless hours watching game film, drawing plays, and refining his art to be the best coach and advisor to his athletes. His years of experience within the field allowed for him to be a mentor to many Lynx coaches of which many still refer to when dealing with situations, developing game plans, and teaching mental toughness to their athletes.”

The 70-year-old Howard turned the Webster City program into a perennial contender again. The former Madrid High standout player returned to a school not far from his old stomping grounds after winning three state championships and reaching the playoffs 16 times while at Sigourney-Keota.

Howard, who also coached at Scranton early in his career, took over the reins of the Lynx in 2007 — just as Webster City’s posteason dry spell had reached a full decade. In the next 17 seasons, Webster City reached the playoffs 14 times — including the Class 3A championship round in 2016. In the last four years alone, the Lynx went 31-11 overall and advanced to the quarterfinal round three times.

Howard’s 372 wins all-time ranks in the state’s Top-5 for a career.

“His retirement will be felt by many more than just the patrons of Webster City, as his career in coaching has led him to be an expert of his art,” Jess Howard said. “Bob has taught us all how to ‘block out the noise’ to perform at our best, and we are lucky to have been a part of his coaching career.

“Lynx Athletics has reaped the benefits of having Bob Howard at the helm of the football program.”