HR0538LRB100 13467 MST 28072 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Henry
4Cowherd of Aurora, who passed away on July 12, 2017; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Henry Cowherd was born on May 19, 1924 and raised
6on the east side of Aurora; he graduated from East Aurora High
7School in 1945, where he was a member of the student council,
8the Boys Club, the Hi-Y Club, and a three-sport athlete; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Henry Cowherd worked at the Burgess Norton Company
10for 34 years; during that time, he was involved in East Aurora
11schools; he was the first African-American elected to the board
12of education, serving 13 years; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Henry Cowherd was a member of the East Aurora
14Dad's Club, the East Aurora Parents Association, the East
15Aurora Sports Boosters, the Aurora East Educational
16Foundation, and the East Aurora Old Timers Association; he also
17served with the Aurora Human Relations Commission, the
18Rush-Copley Board of Directors, the Aurora Area CrimeStoppers
19Board of Directors, and the Kiwanis Club; he was an Upstate
20Eight Conference official and worked with numerous other
21community organizations; and
 

 

 

HR0538- 2 -LRB100 13467 MST 28072 r

1    WHEREAS, In 1991, the East Aurora Board of Education
2unanimously voted to name the district's third middle school
3after Henry Cowherd; in 2008, Aurora's African-American
4Heritage Advisory Board named him as the Outstanding Leader of
5the Year and subsequently named the board's college scholarship
6program in his honor; in 2015, the City of Aurora honored him
7and his wife, Caroline, as grand marshals of the Fourth of July
8parade; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Henry Cowherd and Carolyn were married for 70
10years; therefore, be it
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
12HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
13mourn the passing of Henry Cowherd, and extend our sincere
14condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved
15him; and be it further
 
16    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
17presented to the family of Henry Cowherd as an expression of
18our deepest sympathy.