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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of Oren C. "Lou" Lowder of Springfield, who
4passed away on May 8, 2019; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Lou Lowder was born in Virden to Oren and Elenora
6(Falcetti) Lowder on March 18, 1925; he graduated from
7Cathedral Boys High School in 1943 and enlisted in the United
8States Navy during World War II; he served most of his tour as
9a Gunner's Mate First Class aboard a destroyer escort, the
10Walter C. Wann; he spent the majority of his active service in
11the South Pacific, where he earned, among many other citations,
12five Battle Stars, the Philippine Liberation Medal, and a
13Philippine Presidential Unit Citation; he married June Ruffing
14in Nokomis on October 22, 1949 and re-entered the Navy during
15the Korean War in 1951-1952; and
 
16    WHEREAS, In January 1950, Lou Lowder joined the Illinois
17State Police (ISP), where he spent 28 years advancing in his
18career, moving from trooper to Lt. Colonel and Deputy
19Superintendent; he also served as Executive Security to the
20Governor, the first statewide Staff Inspection Team member, ISP
21Staff, chief of the Illinois State Fair detail, Area Commander
22in charge of the northern half of Illinois including Chicago
23and Cook County, and the first ISP Legislative Liaison Officer;

 

 

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1additionally, he graduated from the FBI National Academy in
2Quantico, Virginia; and
 
3    WHEREAS, In 1977, Lou Lowder retired from the ISP to become
4Executive Director of the Illinois Motor Vehicle Laws
5Commission; in 1983, he served as Traffic Safety Advisor under
6Governor Jim Thompson for a year and then as Highway Safety
7Advisor to Secretary of State Jim Edgar; he was the National
8Chair of the American Association of Motor Vehicle
9Administrator's Committee to Establish Uniform Standards and
10Criteria for testing and issuing Commercial Drivers Licenses
11for the Federal Highway Administration; he also served as
12chairman of the committee that drafted the Illinois Uniform
13Commercial Driver's License Act; he retired in 1990 after 41
14years of service to the State of Illinois; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Lou Lowder was a member of St. Frances Cabrini
16Parish; he coached CYO basketball for 13 years; he served as
17chairman of the Parish Council, chairman of the Men's Club, and
18led two parish fund drives; he and June co-chaired the parish
19fall festival for several years; for 15 years, he served as the
20ground maintenance volunteer for the parish grounds; he was
21also an active member of Knights of Columbus Council 4175 and
22was named Knight of the Year in 1983; and
 
23    WHEREAS, Lou Lowder was a member of many civic and

 

 

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1fraternal organizations, including the Eagles, the VFW, and the
2Illinois Police Association; he was an active member of the
3Golden Gloves Association for over 40 years, serving as
4director of bouts, president, and franchise holder; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Lou Lowder loved most sports and was an avid fan
6of the St. Louis Cardinals; he also made an effort to attend
7his grandchildren's sporting events; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Lou Lowder was preceded in death by his parents;
9his infant son, John Oren Lowder; his granddaughter, Shawna
10Jones; his brother, Robert Lowder; and his sisters, Helen Bell
11and Orrine Lowder; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Lou Lowder is survived by his wife of 69 years,
13June; his children, Marylou Lowder Kent, Judi Stoppelwerth
14(BJ), Oren Lowder, Joe "Joby" Lowder (Trish Hannel), John
15Lowder (Jessica Basham), and Lynn Lowder (Jim Coffey); his
16grandchildren, Katie Kent-Centeno (Andonie), Nick Kent
17(Heather Drouillard), Shyla Dallas (Wayne), Cara Dasher
18(Jason), Candice McCarty (Jared), Oren "CJ" Lowder (Nicole),
19Josh Lowder (Holly Tucker), Trisha Cottrill (Josh), Jared
20Lowder, Madison Marr (Rob), Meghan Paul (Matt), Erik Lowder,
21Lyndsie Herman (Michael Hill), and TJ Herman; 19
22great-grandchildren and one on the way; and several nieces and
23nephews; therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
2ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
3Oren C. "Lou" Lowder and extend our sincere condolences to his
4family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
5further
 
6    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
7presented to the family of Lou Lowder as an expression of our
8deepest sympathy.