SR0678 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0678 LRB096 21365 GRL 37527 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Edward W. Kowal, formerly of Glen Ellyn and Wheaton, who passed away on January 26, 2010; and

WHEREAS, Edward Kowal was born on October 13, 1924; he was born and raised in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood and graduated from Crane Technical High School; and

WHEREAS, In 1942, Edward Kowal passed up a basketball scholarship at Purdue University to join the United States Marine Corps; during World War II, he served in the Pacific theatre as a radio operator, navigator, and rear gunner in airstrikes over the Marshall Islands; he was later awarded the Air Medal for his meritorious service; and

WHEREAS, After his military discharge in 1946, Edward Kowal was employed with a Chicago law firm while attending Wright College; in 1951, he graduated from John Marshall Law School; and

WHEREAS, After graduating from college, Edward Kowal began in private practice, working for a small law firm in Chicago; in 1964, he moved to Wheaton and joined the office of the DuPage County state's attorney, eventually becoming the first assistant state's attorney; and

WHEREAS, In 1974, Edward Kowal was appointed to serve as an associate judge; he served in every division of the DuPage courts as an associate judge; in 1984, he was appointed to serve as a full circuit judge; he was elected to the post in 1986 and was retained in 1992; as associate judge, he presided over 3 trials and numerous courtroom hearings involving one of the most infamous Chicago-area crimes of the last 30 years, the 1983 abduction, rape, and murder of 10-year-old Jeanine Nicarico; and

WHEREAS, In 1993, Edward Kowal was elected as a chief circuit court judge; he retired in 1995, having served 21 years on the bench; as chief judge, he appointed a special prosecutor to scrutinize elements of the investigation into the killing of Jeanine Nicarico; and

WHEREAS, In 1986, Edward Kowal was named the DuPage County Bar Association's "Man of the Year"; and

WHEREAS, Edward Kowal was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary; and

WHEREAS, Edward Kowal is survived by his wife, Mary Lou; his sons, Conrad Kowal, Gary Kowal, and David Grimes; his daughters, Kathleen D'Amico and Elizabeth Grimes; and his 8 grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Edward W. Kowal; and be it further

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