Carl was a city attorney of Hodgenville and county attorney of LaRue County from 1956 to 1960.

From the book; CENTRAL KENTUCKY MILITARY HEROES:
CARL JOHNSON HOWELL, was born November 10, 1912 and died January 7, 1983. Carl was the son of James R. and Mattie Johnson Howell. Carl married Dorothy Nowling, she was born December 13, 1914 and died June 3, 1993. Carl was a Major in the United States Army. When he was discharged he came back to Hodgenville, Kentucky and started his Law Firm and owned and operated the Nancy Lincoln Inn, Lincoln Farm. Carl and Dorothy have two children; Carl Johnson, Jr., and Pamela Sue Howell.

OBITUARY: Carl Howell, Sr., a LaRue County attorney and businessman for the past 45 years, died Friday, January 7, 1983 at Hardin Memorial Hospital in Elizabethtown at he age of 70. 
For the past 33 years, he was Executive Vice-President and Managing Officer of LaRue Federal Savings and Loan Association in Hodgenville. He was also the owner and operator of the Nancy Lincoln Inn, a museum and gift shop adjoining the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Parl. 
Howell was County Attorney of LaRue County from 1958-1962 and was a former Hodgenville city Attorney, At his death, he was a partner in the law firm of Howell and Howell in Hodgenville, where he practiced law with his son, Carl Howell, Jr., and served as LaRue Circuit Court Trial Commissioner. 
Howell was in the Untied States Army during World War II and attained the rank of Major. He was President of the Hodgenville Chamber of Commerce during the 1950s and 1960s for approximately 12 years. He was a member of the Hodgenville ntied Methodist Church. 
He is survived by his wife, Dorothy N. Howell, a daughter Pamela Sue Howell, his son and five granddaughters, Kristi, Dana, Cara Paige, Brittany and Ashley Howell, all of Hodgenville.
Funeral services were held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday at the Bennett-Bertram Funeral Home, with Dr. Isaac McDonald and the Rev. Roger Newell Officiating, with burial in Red Hill Cemetery.