Trivia

His first name was a combination of the first names of his parents, Harold and Jewell Howser. Huell explains this in the opening of Smartsville (2009).

Before he passed away, Howser began donating some of his materials to Chapman University in Orange, California. This came about via one of his Road Trip with Huell Howser (2001) shows that he taped near the campus- which did not feature the university. This caught the attention of campus president Jim Doti who wrote to Howser and a friendship was formed. This culminated into Howser eventually leaving his entire tape library of all his shows, books, research papers, memorabilia and other artifacts to the school which lead to the creation of the California's Gold Exhibit & Huell Howser Archives which is maintained by Chapman University as a permanent exhibit.

Filed a taxpayer suit in Los Angeles County Superior Court to prevent the Long Beach Naval Station, which featured buildings by African-American architect Paul Williams, from being demolished and made into a cargo container facility for the Chinese government-owned shipping company COSCO, maintaing that such a use would be a "waste" of public assets. The lawsuit was thrown out and demolition began in October 1998. Congress has sinced passed a law preventing use of property by entities with ties to the People's Republic of China. (January 1997)

Was the first to be given full access to film on the grounds and interiors of the Rancho Mirage, California home of Frank Sinatra, on his show California's Gold (1991). Out of many homes Sinatra owned, this was the most favored and considered intimate by the late entertainer, as revealed by members of his estate on the show.

A native of Tennessee, he graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in history and later served in the Marines. After working as an aide to Howard H. Baker Jr., then a Republican U.S. senator from Tennessee, he was hired as a reporter by WSM-TV, the NBC affiliate in Nashville.

He lived in California for thirty-two years, keeping his apartment at the El Royale in Los Angeles the entire time. In later years the apartment was used as a weekday residence, (for work), while his primary residence was in Palm Springs on the weekends. He also owned a desert retreat home in Twentynine Palms, (used for entertaining), and also owned what was called the Volcano House, in Newberry Springs, but never lived there.

The namesake of a Hawaiian honey ham & pineapple cheeseburger at Peggy Sue's 50s Diner (Yermo and Victorville, California)

Worked for both the New York and Los Angeles affiliates of the CBS network as a television show host and field reporter. This was before ultimately joining his current network, PBS, at their Los Angeles affiliate of KCET, since the late 1980s.

Since the incarnation of California's Gold (1991) and Visiting... with Huell Howser (1993), he has expanded his documentaries with new series such as "California's Green", "California's Golden Coast", "California's Golden Parks", "Road Trip... With Huell Howser", "California Missions" and specials highlighting the resort city of Palm Springs, California.

Spending time between his residences in Los Angeles, Coachella Valley and Twentynine Palms, California while still continuing his trademark California documentaries and television specials. (February 2004).

In 2017, Huell Howser's longtime cameraman Luis Fuerte published a book titled "Louie, Take a Look at This!: A Memoir of My Time with Huell Howser." Huell Howser died in 2013. The book is filled with many stories and photographs of Luis' partnership and camaraderie with Huell Howser in the making of over 100 documentaries about California over a period of twelve years.

Was a sought-out candidate for Palm Springs Mayor, during 2002, by a local group of citizens. Howser politely showed no interest.

Hobbies included sporadic painting and photography. Was said he had a keen eye for lighting and composition.

Favorite vacation destination, outside of the United States, was the Cook Islands.