SR0741 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0741 LRB100 13519 MST 28133 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

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

WHEREAS, Henry Cowherd was born in Indianapolis, Indiana to Henry W. Sr. and Louise (Carter) Cowherd on May 19, 1924; he graduated from East Aurora High School in 1945; and

WHEREAS, Henry Cowherd worked at the Burgess Norton Company for 34 years; and

WHEREAS, Henry Cowherd made history when he became the first African American elected to the East Aurora School Board, where he served for 13 years; he was honored by the Illinois State Board of Education as one of "Those Who Excel" in recognition of his volunteerism and leadership; and

WHEREAS, Henry Cowherd was recognized by the Aurora African American Heritage Advisory Board, where a scholarship was named in his honor; he served on the Aurora Human Relations Commission, the Aurora Area Crime Stoppers Board of Directors, and was a governing member of the Rush-Copley Board of Directors; and

WHEREAS, Henry Cowherd was the past president of Boys Baseball of Aurora; he was a member of the Sports Booster Club for 25 years and was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame; he was an active member of Main Baptist Church, where he served as a trustee for 20 years; and

WHEREAS, In 1991, the East Aurora Board of Education unanimously voted to name the district's third middle school in Henry Cowherd's honor, H.W. Cowherd Middle School; in 2015, he and his wife were honored by the City of Aurora as grand marshals for the Fourth of July parade; and

WHEREAS, Henry Cowherd was preceded in death by his parents and his son Roderick, (Becky) Cowherd; and

WHEREAS, Henry Cowherd is survived by his wife of 70 years, Phyllis "Carolyn" Cowherd; his daughter, Brenda (Rufus) Banks; his son, James Michael (Ricardo) Cowherd; his grandchildren, Shelley (Rodney) Johnson, Anthony Cowherd, Scott (Ashley) Banks, and Stephen Cowherd; his great-grandchildren, Rima, Lailani, Bradyn, Brycen, Kenya, and Kaia; his sister, Barbara (Leon) Johnson; and his nephew, Ronell (Sherri) Johnson; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Henry W. Cowherd Jr., 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.