Theodore E. Howard was born in Whitby, Ontario. He came to Winnipeg, Manitoba as a boy in 1887 and financed his education by delivering newspapers. He received a commercial diploma from the Department of Education. He first worked for Myron McBride and Company, a men’s wear business, then after four years joined Gaults Limited of Montreal, which had just set up a new warehouse on Bannatyne Street in Winnipeg. He rose to the position of credit manager. In 1922 Howard and several associates bought the business from the Gault estate and he became a Director. He was very active in the Canadian Credit Men’s Trust Association, serving as National President, 1927-1928. He was also an avid collector and his collections included philatelics, First Nations artifacts, old books and art.