HR0976 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0976 LRB097 21171 GRL 68769 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Dr. Sam H. McGowen on the occasion of his retirement as Superintendent of Mascoutah Community Unit School District #19; and

WHEREAS, Sam McGowen earned his bachelor's degree in social studies with a minor in English from Southeast Missouri State University in 1966; he subsequently earned his master's degree and specialist degree in educational administration from Southeast Missouri State University and his doctorate in educational administration from St. Louis University; and

WHEREAS, Sam McGowen has served in the education field for 45 years; he began his career as a social studies teacher in Bonne Terre, Missouri in 1967; after serving as a teacher and administrator in numerous Missouri schools, he accepted the position of Superintendent of Paris School District #95 in 1988; in 1994, he took the position of Superintendent of Mascoutah Community Unit School District #19, where he remained until his retirement on June 30, 2012; and

WHEREAS, During his tenure as Superintendent, Sam McGowen presided over a period of student growth in the district while promoting a vision statement that emphasized a "Community of Excellent Schools"; student enrollment during his tenure swelled from 2,700 students to over 3,600; numerous additions and renovations to the district's facilities were also completed during his tenure; and

WHEREAS, Sam McGowen retired from the Missouri Army National Guard at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel on September of 1993 after 27 years of active and reserve service; at the time of his retirement, he served as the Operations Officer of the Missouri Army National Guard's 35th Engineer Brigade; and

WHEREAS, Sam McGowen is a member of the American Association of School Administrators, the Illinois Association of School Administrators, the Illinois State Board of Education Accreditation Review Team, the Illinois Association of School Boards, the Illinois Association of School Business Officials, Phi Delta Kappa, the Military Impacted Schools Association, the National Association of Federally Impacted Schools, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Belleville Area Special Services Cooperative Executive Committee, the St. Clair County/SWIC Regional Vocation System Board of Control, the Retired National Guard Association, the Mascoutah Chamber of Commerce, Main Street Mascoutah, and the Mascoutah First Baptist Church; and

WHEREAS, A retirement reception in honor of Sam McGowen will be held at the Mascoutah High School Cafeteria on May 24, 2012; and

WHEREAS, Sam McGowen serves as a model of hard work, integrity, and dedication for the people of the State of Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Dr. Sam H. McGowen on the occasion of his retirement and wish him many happy and healthy retirement years; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Sam McGowen as a symbol of our esteem and respect.