HR0583 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0583 LRB098 13918 GRL 48457 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to honor the life of former State Representative Frederick Harris Rowe of Jacksonville, who passed away at the age of 89 on September 8, 2013, ending an exceptional life of community and political service; and

WHEREAS, Harris Rowe was born on November 10, 1923 in Jacksonville; he was educated in the Jacksonville school system and graduated from Jacksonville High School with the Class of 1941; he subsequently earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Illinois College in Jacksonville; and

WHEREAS, During World War II, Harris Rowe served in the United States Army Air Corps and served in the South Pacific Theater; he later earned his Juris Doctorate from Northwestern University Law School; and

WHEREAS, After receiving his law degree in 1950, Harris Rowe joined his father in the administration of Central National Life Insurance Company, where he served as secretary and treasurer; he later served as president and CEO after the death of his father; and

WHEREAS, Harris Rowe married the love of his life, Alice Mary Crabtree, on December 22, 1954 in Jacksonville; and

WHEREAS, In addition to his successful career as a businessman, Harris Rowe held many leadership positions within his community, including chairman of the Board of Trustees of MacMurray College, chairman of the Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, director of the Illinois State Chamber of Commerce, president of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, president of the Jacksonville Kiwanis Club, and a member of the Morgan County, Illinois, and American Bar Associations; and

WHEREAS, When Harris Rowe was in junior high, he contracted polio; as a survivor, he served as chairman of the Morgan County Chapter of the National Polio Foundation for many years; and

WHEREAS, Harris Rowe also had a love of politics which was instilled in him through his father, Richard Yates Rowe, who served as State Treasurer and Secretary of State, and his great-uncles, Illinois Governors Richard Yates and Richard Yates Jr.; and

WHEREAS, The political career of Harris Rowe includes 35 years as precinct committeeman, 28 years as chairman of the Morgan County Republican Central Committee, and 8 years as alderman for the City of Jacksonville; he served as State Representative of the 49th District in the Illinois General Assembly with the Republican Caucus for 6 years; he was also one of 59 successful Republican candidates on the State-wide at-large ballot in 1964 and was the Republican candidate for State Treasurer in 1966; and

WHEREAS, Harris Rowe served as director of the Young Republicans organization and was elected as a delegate to the Republican National Convention twice; and

WHEREAS, Above all, Harris Rowe was a dedicated family man who was a devoted to his wife, his 4 daughters, his 7 grandchildren, and his 2 great-grandchildren; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor the life of Harris Rowe, acknowledge the passing of a remarkable man who was committed to serving others, and offer our sincere condolences to his family and friends; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Harris Rowe as an expression of our sincere sympathy and gratitude to a man who dedicated his life to community and political service and was an asset to the Republican Party.