We, the undersigned, respectfully and urgently plea for mercy for Ronald R. Howard. We wish to express our deepest concern and opposition regarding the execution of Mr. Howard scheduled for October 06, 2005 and request that Governor Perry grant Mr. Howard clemency to have his sentence of death commuted to life imprisonment.

Today, Ron Howard is 31 years old. In 1992, at the age 18, Ron Howard shot Texas State Trooper Mr. Davidson in an act of panic. The shooting of Mr. Davidson was not a premeditated act.

Ron Howard has been on death row for more than 13 years. Early on, he verbalized his deepest regret for his action and wished nothing more than for his victim to be alive.

At the time of the crime, Ron Howard was a teenager with no role model to show him a way out of the ghetto he grew up in. During the many years of his incarceration, Ron Howard has changed. The teenager from the streets has become a bright, educated, very thoughtful, honest and Christian man. He is respected by the wardens, guards, and probation officers who often come to him for help.

Ron Howard has used his time on death row to not only write a countless number of letters to friends all over the world, showing his social skills, his love and care for others; he also wrote his autobiography as a testimony of his personal growth.

For years, Ron Howard has reached out to at-risk youth in the USA as well as in Europe. School classes got in touch with him and friendships have developed from that. Through him, they have learned how easily one can get on the wrong path. All of them need Ron Howard to live and to continue his mission of raising awareness among at-risk youth.

At the moment, Ron Howard is not represented by any lawyer. His state-appointed lawyer has turned down requests to represent him further and held back important information concerning the clemency procedures. This now poses serious danger to Ron Howards life. He must not be executed when he does not have legal representation to act in his name.

We, the undersigned, urge you to spare Mr. Howard's life and to commute this sentence into a life imprisonment. He is now a good and precious friend to many. He is never aggressive. He is a loved and needed father, son, brother. Mr. Howards death would not bring Mr. Davidson back to life. We, the undersigned, urge the Board to recommend to the Governor to grant clemency to Mr. Howard.