Howard Dirks

{{short description|Canadian politician (1938–2018)}} {{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Howard Leroy Dirks | image = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date|1938|8|7}} | birth_place = Waldheim, Saskatchewan | death_date = {{Death date and age|2018|10|26|1938|8|7}} | death_place = Alberta, Canada | constituency_AM1 = Nelson-Creston | assembly1 = British Columbia Legislative | term_start1 = October 22, 1986 | term_end1 = October 17, 1991 | predecessor1 = Lorne Nicolson | successor1 = Corky Evans | predecessor = | successor = | party = Social Credit Party of British Columbia | profession = Oil Field Technologist, Restaurateur | alma_mater = University of Saskatchewan | occupation = | spouse = Lorna Mary Logan | children = }}

'''Howard Leroy Dirks''' (August 7, 1938 – October 26, 2018)<ref name="flanagan"/> was an American oil field technologist, restaurant owner and political figure in British Columbia. After being defeated in the 1983 provincial election, he represented Nelson-Creston in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 1986 to 1991 as a Social Credit member.

He was born in Waldheim, Saskatchewan and educated at the University of Saskatchewan. In 1961 Dirks married Lorna Mary Logan. He was an alderman for Nelson. Dirks served in the provincial cabinet as Provincial Secretary and as Minister of Development, Trade and Tourism.<ref name="flanagan">{{cite book |title=Canadian Parliamentary Guide |date=Spring 1991 |last=Flanagan |first=Kathryn M |author2=Miller, Katherine J}}</ref> He was defeated by Corky Evans when he ran for reelection to the assembly in 1991 and 1996; in 1996, Dirks ran as a Liberal candidate.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.llbc.leg.bc.ca/public/pubdocs/bcdocs/354968/electhistvol2.pdf |title=Electoral History of British Columbia, Supplement, 1987–2001 |publisher=Elections BC |accessdate=2012-02-18}}</ref>

Dirks died on October 26, 2018, at the age of 80.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Howard Leroy Dirks |url=https://www.nelsonstar.com/obituaries/howard-leroy-dirks-4867177 |access-date=2025-04-20 |website=Nelson Star |language=en}}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dirks, Howard L}} Category:BC United candidates in British Columbia provincial elections Category:British Columbia Social Credit Party MLAs Category:1938 births Category:Canadian businesspeople in the oil industry Category:Canadian restaurateurs Category:Members of the Executive Council of British Columbia Category:People from Nelson, British Columbia Category:People from the Rural Municipality of Laird No. 404 Category:University of Saskatchewan alumni Category:20th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia Category:2018 deaths