Born in Washington, D.C., Hermon Reed Howes served in the Navy during World War I. Biographical info is sketchy, but most note that he was a Harvard graduate and one of the "Arrow Collar Men" models during the 1920s - these were ads for Arrow shirts. Based on the census and marriage records, it appears that Howes "tied the knot" at least three times - in the census data below, there's reference to two wives. And I do have a July, 1937 newspaper article which notes Howes' recent marriage to a Mary Donovan.

His Hollywood career began around 1923 in silents for filmmaker Ben Wilson, and included starring roles. However, lead roles for Howes came to an end with the coming of sound.

Ed Tabor dug out his 1935-1936 Motion Picture Almanac and following is the info listed for Howes:

Howes, Reed: Actor. b. Washington, D.C.; h. 6 feet; brown hair and gray eyes; e. University of Utah, Harvard Graduating School; hy. aviation, swimming, basketball, wrestling and squash. Stage career; opposite Peggy Wood in "Artist's Life," supported Billy Burke in "Intimate Strangers." Screen work with Fox, Rayart, Warners, Paramount. Pictures include "Fashion Madness," Columbia; "Ladies Night In A Turkish Bath," First National; "Hellship Bronson," Gotham; "A Million for Love," Sterling; "Sawdust Paradise," Paramount; star in "Russ Farrell, Aviator," Educational; "Come Across," Universal; (1932), "Devil On Deck," Sono Art-World Wide.

Many of the B western and serial players were NOT great with dialog delivery.  I've always rated Howes low in this category - his voice and personality seemed to have no zip, no "pizzazz".  And since he lacked charisma and didn't have the bulk or menace of a Harry Woods, Roy Barcroft or Fred Kohler, he wound up relegated to supporting roles and bit parts for the remainder of his career.

During the sound era, Howes appeared in about 165 films, of which 102 were westerns and 26 were chapterplays.  He did about 30 films at Republic during the period 1937-1950, and approximately 2/3 were westerns and the remainder were serials. One of his meatier support roles was in the John Wayne THE DAWN RIDER (Lone Star/Monogram, 1935). In that oater, Wayne and Howes battle a gang run by Yakima Canutt and a young Dennis Moore (still going by the name of Denny Meadows). Howes' cinema swan song was in THE SINISTER URGE (1961), one of the z grade horror flicks churned out by Ed Wood, Jr. (PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE and others).

In the early 1950s, Howes was among many who transitioned to TV work and he appeared in episodes of WILD BILL HICKOK, THE GENE AUTRY SHOW, ANNIE OAKLEY, CISCO KID, more. He had a recurring role as the sheriff in THE ROY ROGERS TV show. (Harry Harvey Sr. also played the lawman on the Roy and Dale TV show.)

Les Adams adds:  "Howes was in many Randolph Scott films over about a 15-year period dating from the late 1930s - possibly as a stand-in, or he was a friend, or it was just a casting accident. Perhaps an Old Corral visitor knows.  And I suspect the reason that so many of the old-time western players - Howes, Osborne, Tyler, Keene, Lyle Talbot - were cast in Ed Wood pictures was because Alex Gordon was involved in a lot of those films."

Howes passed away at the Motion Picture Home and Hospital, Woodland Hills, California on August 6, 1964.

The California Death Records database has a record for: Herman R. Howes, born 7/5/1901, Mother's maiden name of Messerse, and he passed away in the Los Angeles area on 8/6/1964. There is a corresponding record in the Social Security Death Index (SSDI).

  Although some of the data is incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDB) has information on Reed Howes: http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0398139/

David B. Pearson's Silent-Movies website has a 1920s era photo of Howes without his customary moustache: http://silentgents.com/SGAnnex20.html

Jim Tipton's Find A Grave website has a photo of the grave marker of World War I Navy veteran Hermon Reed Howes at the Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, California, The marker notes he was born in Washington D. C. and his first name is shown as Hermon (with an O), not Herman (with an A): http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=9710

The Family Search website has information on Reed Howes:

• 1910 census - 44 year old Edwin L. Howes, 40 year old wife Grace, and 9 year old son Herman R. Howes are living in Washington, D. C.: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MKLJ-VVW
• 1920 census - 50 year old Edwin L. Howes, 47 year old wife Grace, and 19 year old son Herman Reed Howes are living in Utah: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M8P5-HKC
• 1930 census - 28 year old Reed Howes and 32 year old lodger Dudley Monroe reside in Beverly Hills. Howes identifies himself as divorced and born in Washington, D.C.: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XCFF-TLC
• October 7, 1932 Putnam, New York marriage of Hermon R. Howes of New York City and Catherine R. Tabor of Los Angeles. Howes' birthdate is July 5, 1900 and his parents are Edwin L. Howes and Grace Maserve: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KZ9N-Y15
  Marriage license (with his first name spelled Hermon not Herman): https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-9879-43228-80?cc=1618491&wc=MM1M-KJH:n1669983194

(Courtesy of Les Adams)

Above is the title lobby card for MILLION DOLLAR HAUL (Superior/Stage & Screen, 1935), a crime yarn which was one of Reed Howes' last starring roles. On the left is Howes and "Tarzan the Police Dog", and on the right is Janet Chandler and William Farnum. Below is a crop from another of the MILLION DOLLAR HAUL lobby cards - shown from L-to-R are Janet Chandler, Robert Frazer and Howes.

(Courtesy of Les Adams)

(From Old Corral image collection)

(Courtesy of Les Adams)

(Courtesy of Les Adams)

(Courtesy of Les Adams)

(From Old Corral image collection)

(Courtesy of Les Adams)