John Howard, the founder of the Black Business Investment Corp., died July 11 in West Palm Beach. He was 83. Howard was a leader and a mentor among Black entrepreneurs in Florida. He was the first president of a Black-owned bank in the state, the former Palm Beach Lakes Bank in West Palm Beach. His investment company also helped hundreds of Black-owned businesses obtain financing from banks by guaranteeing their loans. It also helped them develop marketing and business plans. Howard is survived by Christine, his wife of 50 years, a brother and five children.