Q&A with Chet Hower of Hower Lodge
Chet Hower, CEO
I feel blessed to live in the age where recovery is possible. It has allowed me to be a Father, Partner, Husband, Grandfather, and a part of the solution!
My wife and I were presented with an opportunity to carry our message of Hope at a deeper level 5 years ago. We spent two years writing policies and getting licenses. The process was a total God-shot as we are not rich people. We opened Hower Lodge in August of 2017. It has been a journey with many trails, setbacks and victories! We are inspired when we get to see the lights come on in a clients eyes. Gift and Grace are too small of words to describe the feeling. We look forward to the people we have yet to meet on the path!
Q. If you are in recovery, what was your Drug of Choice? and when did you stop using?
A. I am clean and sober from Meth and Alcohol since February 18, 1996.
Q. Do you think addiction is an illness, disease, a choice or a wicked twist of fate.
A. Addiction, as I experienced it, went from a choice to absolutely no choice. The science would say a disease. I know that treating it as a disease brings about more recovery!
Q. Have you added anything to your Tool-kit to help keep you sober during the pandemic?
A. I have added more phone contact with peers and men that I help through the steps in order to navigate the isolation during the pandemic.
Q. Where did you grow up?
A. I grew up in the Kingwood/Humble area of Texas, Edmond, Oklahoma, and the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Q. From what school or teacher did you learn the most?
A.Miss Demick in 6th grade science. She had a sense of humor … And my football coaches.
Q. If you had an extra million dollars, which charity would you donate it to?
A. VKIDS in Uganda. It stands for Vulnerable Kids. We sponsor a young boy and a young girl there by paying for their schooling.
Q. Do you have any children?
A. I have three wonderful Sons. They are all late 20s and early 30s.
Q. If you ever retire would you prefer to live by the ocean, lake, river, mountaintop or penthouse?
A. I would love to retire to a ranch with horses and some livestock. With a tool shed and a tractor!!!
Q. What is your biggest or littlest pet peeve?
A. Traffic Jams!
Q. Who has had the biggest influence on you throughout your life?
A. My Great-grandfather, grandfather, family, my sons and the Loving Members of Alcoholics Anonymous. My childhood hero was Jim Thorpe.
Q. If you were giving a dinner party for your 3 favorite authors, living or dead, who would they be? (choose 4 if you think one might be too drunk or stoned to attend.)
A. Cormac McCarthy, Kurt Vonnegut, Larry McMurtry, Michael Shaara
Q. What books are you reading now?
A. Iron John by Robert Bly
Q. Are you bingeing on any TV series? If so which ones?
A. Yellowstone. Ancient Civilizations
Q. Which film have you watched the most?
A. The Shawshank Redemption I watched it once a week when I was getting sober … Fight Club
Q. Who is your FAVORITE Director?
A. David Fincher and Sam Mendes
Q. Who is your favorite sober celebrity?
A. Anthony Hopkins, Stevie Ray Vaughn
Q. What is your FAVORITE Band/composer/musical artist?
A. Tough question!!! Right now … Amos Lee, too many to count!
Q. What is your FAVORITE Broadway musical/play?
A. Book of Mormon, South Pacific, Paint Your Wagon, Porgy and Bess
Q. What is your FAVORITE City?
A. Galveston, Texas
Q. What is your FAVORITE Museum?
A. Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City
Q. What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
A. It’ll be okay if you don’t drink or use…
Q. What is the best piece of advice YOU’VE given?
A. Oh … I’ve given lots of advice. How about “It’ll be okay if you don’t drink or use”.
Q. What is the greatest risk you have ever taken?
A. Opening a treatment center on a wing and a prayer.
Q. What is your biggest regret?
A. “We will not regret the past or wish to shut the door on it” … I see now how all my failures and victories have brought me to my path today. I wouldn’t be me without them.
Q. Have you ever been arrested and if so, for what?
A. Two DUI’s. Dozens of detentions and many dozen contacts with authorities where I walked away on dumb luck.
Q. What is the proudest moment in your life?
A. Standing at my oldest Son’s wedding and toasting him and his lovely Bride.
Q. What is your favorite Weekly News Bulletin?
A. Breitbart