HR0538 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0538 LRB100 13467 MST 28072 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Henry Cowherd of Aurora, who passed away on July 12, 2017; and

WHEREAS, Henry Cowherd was born on May 19, 1924 and raised on the east side of Aurora; he graduated from East Aurora High School in 1945, where he was a member of the student council, the Boys Club, the Hi-Y Club, and a three-sport athlete; and

WHEREAS, Henry Cowherd worked at the Burgess Norton Company for 34 years; during that time, he was involved in East Aurora schools; he was the first African-American elected to the board of education, serving 13 years; and

WHEREAS, Henry Cowherd was a member of the East Aurora Dad's Club, the East Aurora Parents Association, the East Aurora Sports Boosters, the Aurora East Educational Foundation, and the East Aurora Old Timers Association; he also served with the Aurora Human Relations Commission, the Rush-Copley Board of Directors, the Aurora Area CrimeStoppers Board of Directors, and the Kiwanis Club; he was an Upstate Eight Conference official and worked with numerous other community organizations; and

WHEREAS, In 1991, the East Aurora Board of Education unanimously voted to name the district's third middle school after Henry Cowherd; in 2008, Aurora's African-American Heritage Advisory Board named him as the Outstanding Leader of the Year and subsequently named the board's college scholarship program in his honor; in 2015, the City of Aurora honored him and his wife, Caroline, as grand marshals of the Fourth of July parade; and

WHEREAS, Henry Cowherd and Carolyn were married for 70 years; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Henry Cowherd, and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Henry Cowherd as an expression of our deepest sympathy.