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Howard Bomstein is a native Washingtonian. Listen in to Howard talk to Andy O about his immigrant parents, school, his family, the Army, his early career choices, opening and closing the doors of his advertising agency, and landing on his feet at the Washington Post. \nHoward Bomstein - Advertising Manager Washington Post - Our Town\n\nHoward also shares personal stories such as how he fell in love with, and married, Polly, and how it was that he and Andy ended up in a feud that lasted many years until a mutual friend interceded. One thing for sure, you will come to understand Howard\u2019s staying power in the market: connections, connections, connections.\n\nHoward Bomstein was born in Washington DC in 1948 to immigrant parents. His Dad immigrated to Baltimore in 1920, and graduated from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy in 1935. When he found he could earn $5 a week more in DC, he and Howard\u2019s Mom moved there, and ran the Pharmacy at Union Station. Howard never knew his Dad. He died 12 days after Howard was born. His Mom raised him as a \u201csingle Mom\u201d. She didn\u2019t remarry until Howard was in his early 20s.\n\nHoward began his life with his Mom and Dad on Roxanna Road NW just south of the 16th Street Circle. In 1961, his Mom moved the family to Montgomery County where he went to school. Howard attended Blair High School in Silver Spring, and went on to the University of Maryland where he graduated with a degree in Information Systems Management. He says \u201cUnfortunately it was not something I was very good at . . . I was terrible at it. . . to this day I'm terrible with computers.\u201d\n\nAndy asks Howard about his family and how he and his wife Polly met. Polly worked as a receptionist for Howard\u2019s advertising agency, The Bomstein Agency, and they were moving offices. \u201cI remember the day I was smitten with Polly. We were moving the office . . . literally across the street . . . basically carting things from one office to the other. The [new] office had hardwood floors and I remember as we were moving things in Polly caught my eye because she was wearing blue jeans and Nike tennis shoes and a sweatshirt and I just thought she was beautiful.\u201d Howard and Polly have three beautiful daughters all of whom are college grads. Andy chuckles and tells Howard that he looks a \u201clittle heavier now\u201d now that he\u2019s finished paying tuition. A conversation ensues between Andy and Howard about college in today\u2019s world and we learn that Howard is an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland. He teaches marketing and branding. \n\nAndy asks Howard what led him into advertising and starting his own agency. Howard Bomstein takes us through life after college and some of the jobs he had before creating The Bomstein Agency. In 1970, before graduation from the University of Maryland, Howard knew he was going to be drafted so he enlisted in the Army and \u201crose to the enormous rank of specialist fourth class and my military occupational specialty MOS was a 76B20 I was a clerk typist. . . in a supply unit and what you learn to do in is to count blankets. \u201c He became very good at counting blankets before leaving the Army and coming home to go to grad school. \n\nHoward Bomstein graduated with a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Penn State, but instead of working in public administration he took an offer to work for his cousin in the home building business. He became an assistant in the marketing department at US Homes for $8000.00 a year doing statistical analysis. \u201cIn the Fall of 1974, we had a recession. It was pretty severe. . .\u201d and was due to price control of gasoline. \u201cSo, Herman came to me and said I'm sorry I've got some bad news but I have to lay you off because we're not selling any houses and the markets terrible.\u201d All was not lost, however, because Howard had gotten to know Bill Regardie. Bill and his wife, Renay, had Housing Data Reports to which US Homes subscribed.