News Center

WALL, N.J. – New Jersey Resources (NYSE: NJR) today announced the election of the Reverend M. William Howard to its Board of Directors.  Rev. Howard is pastor of Bethany Baptist Church in Newark.

“As a vibrant leader of local and national communities for decades, Rev. Howard has set a powerful example for every organization that takes its commitment to being a responsible corporate citizen as seriously as we do,” said Laurence M. Downes, chairman and CEO of NJR. “As a member of the board, Rev. Howard’s wisdom and experience will be a tremendous asset to all our stakeholders.”

Rev. Howard became pastor of Bethany Baptist Church in 2000. Prior to that position, he was president of New York Theological Seminary from 1992 to 2000.  He also served as president of the National Council of Churches from 1979 to 1981 and as trustee of the National Urban League from 1981 to 1988. He is currently a member of the Rutgers University Board of Governors.

During his distinguished career, Rev. Howard conducted Christmas services for the U.S. Embassy personnel held hostage in Tehran, Iran, and headed an ecumenical delegation that traveled with the Rev. Jesse Jackson to obtain the release of U.S. Navy pilot, Lt. Robert Goodman, from a Syrian jail. 

Rev. Howard was ordained in 1974, earned a master’s degree in Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1972 and graduated from Morehouse College in 1968.

New Jersey Resources (NYSE:NJR), a Fortune 1000 company and a member of the Forbes Platinum 400, provides reliable retail and wholesale energy services to customers in New Jersey and in states from the Gulf Coast to New England, and Canada. Its principal subsidiary, New Jersey Natural Gas, is one of the fastest-growing local distribution companies in the United States, serving more than 459,000 customers in central and northern New Jersey. Other major NJR subsidiaries include NJR Energy Services and NJR Home Services. NJR Energy Services is a leader in the unregulated energy services market, providing customer service and management of natural gas storage and capacity assets. NJR Home Services offers retail customers heating, air conditioning and appliance services. NJR’s progress is a tribute to the more than 5,000 dedicated employees who have shared their expertise and focus on quality through more than 50 years of serving customers and the community to make NJR a leader in the competitive energy marketplace. For more information, visit NJR’s Web site at njliving.com.