SR0440 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0440 LRB101 12564 MST 60961 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Oren C. "Lou" Lowder of Springfield, who passed away on May 8, 2019; and

WHEREAS, Lou Lowder was born in Virden to Oren and Elenora (Falcetti) Lowder on March 18, 1925; he graduated from Cathedral Boys High School in 1943 and enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II; he served most of his tour as a Gunner's Mate First Class aboard a destroyer escort, the Walter C. Wann; he spent the majority of his active service in the South Pacific, where he earned, among many other citations, five Battle Stars, the Philippine Liberation Medal, and a Philippine Presidential Unit Citation; he married June Ruffing in Nokomis on October 22, 1949 and re-entered the Navy during the Korean War in 1951-1952; and

WHEREAS, In January 1950, Lou Lowder joined the Illinois State Police (ISP), where he spent 28 years advancing in his career, moving from trooper to Lt. Colonel and Deputy Superintendent; he also served as Executive Security to the Governor, the first statewide Staff Inspection Team member, ISP Staff, chief of the Illinois State Fair detail, Area Commander in charge of the northern half of Illinois including Chicago and Cook County, and the first ISP Legislative Liaison Officer; additionally, he graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia; and

WHEREAS, In 1977, Lou Lowder retired from the ISP to become Executive Director of the Illinois Motor Vehicle Laws Commission; in 1983, he served as Traffic Safety Advisor under Governor Jim Thompson for a year and then as Highway Safety Advisor to Secretary of State Jim Edgar; he was the National Chair of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrator's Committee to Establish Uniform Standards and Criteria for testing and issuing Commercial Drivers Licenses for the Federal Highway Administration; he also served as chairman of the committee that drafted the Illinois Uniform Commercial Driver's License Act; he retired in 1990 after 41 years of service to the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Lou Lowder was a member of St. Frances Cabrini Parish; he coached CYO basketball for 13 years; he served as chairman of the Parish Council, chairman of the Men's Club, and led two parish fund drives; he and June co-chaired the parish fall festival for several years; for 15 years, he served as the ground maintenance volunteer for the parish grounds; he was also an active member of Knights of Columbus Council 4175 and was named Knight of the Year in 1983; and

WHEREAS, Lou Lowder was a member of many civic and fraternal organizations, including the Eagles, the VFW, and the Illinois Police Association; he was an active member of the Golden Gloves Association for over 40 years, serving as director of bouts, president, and franchise holder; and

WHEREAS, Lou Lowder loved most sports and was an avid fan of the St. Louis Cardinals; he also made an effort to attend his grandchildren's sporting events; and

WHEREAS, Lou Lowder was preceded in death by his parents; his infant son, John Oren Lowder; his granddaughter, Shawna Jones; his brother, Robert Lowder; and his sisters, Helen Bell and Orrine Lowder; and

WHEREAS, Lou Lowder is survived by his wife of 69 years, June; his children, Marylou Lowder Kent, Judi Stoppelwerth (BJ), Oren Lowder, Joe "Joby" Lowder (Trish Hannel), John Lowder (Jessica Basham), and Lynn Lowder (Jim Coffey); his grandchildren, Katie Kent-Centeno (Andonie), Nick Kent (Heather Drouillard), Shyla Dallas (Wayne), Cara Dasher (Jason), Candice McCarty (Jared), Oren "CJ" Lowder (Nicole), Josh Lowder (Holly Tucker), Trisha Cottrill (Josh), Jared Lowder, Madison Marr (Rob), Meghan Paul (Matt), Erik Lowder, Lyndsie Herman (Michael Hill), and TJ Herman; 19 great-grandchildren and one on the way; and several nieces and nephews; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Oren C. "Lou" Lowder and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Lou Lowder as an expression of our deepest sympathy.