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.