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1 | SENATE RESOLUTION
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2 | WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois | ||||||
3 | learned with regret of the death of James William "J.W." Cowan | ||||||
4 | on August 5, 2004; and
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5 | WHEREAS, J.W. was born on February 4, 1942 in East St. | ||||||
6 | Louis to Reverend William and Susie Lee Cowan; he graduated | ||||||
7 | from Lincoln Senior High School in 1961; he received an | ||||||
8 | undergraduate degree from Sangamon State University in | ||||||
9 | Springfield and later attended McKendree College of Lebanon, | ||||||
10 | where he received a Master's Degree in criminal justice; and
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11 | WHEREAS, Mr. Cowan valiantly served his country as a member | ||||||
12 | of the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged; he held various | ||||||
13 | positions including Staff Major and was the Chef for the | ||||||
14 | Colonel; and
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15 | WHEREAS, J.W. was baptized at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist | ||||||
16 | Church and was an active member, serving faithfully by | ||||||
17 | providing security services and working in the food pantry; he | ||||||
18 | had a passion for people and never met a stranger; he was firm, | ||||||
19 | but never hesitated to help anyone in need; he was community | ||||||
20 | service centered and regularly volunteered his time to civic | ||||||
21 | programs, churches, and boards focused on helping the city of | ||||||
22 | East St. Louis; and
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23 | WHEREAS, Mr. Cowan was a leader in the community and held | ||||||
24 | office on many boards, including the Leslie Bates Neighborhood | ||||||
25 | House and the 911 County Board; after various jobs, he became | ||||||
26 | one of the first African-American owners of a local variety | ||||||
27 | store, serving the South-End community; and
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28 | WHEREAS, Mr. Cowan chose law enforcement as a career in | ||||||
29 | 1969; he started as a patrolman in East St. Louis and rose | ||||||
30 | through the ranks of Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Captain and was |
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1 | appointed Chief of Police until his retirement after 35 years | ||||||
2 | of service; he was a past president of the Fraternal Order of | ||||||
3 | Police and through the years received numerous awards and | ||||||
4 | certificates for his outstanding work and contributions to the | ||||||
5 | East St. Louis law enforcement community; and
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6 | WHEREAS, J.W. married Betty Sayles on July 31, 1988; they | ||||||
7 | were known as "Chief and Mrs. Chief"; and
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8 | WHEREAS, Mr. Cowan was a committed Mason; his Masonic | ||||||
9 | affiliation includes past Worthy Joshua, Heroines of Jericho, | ||||||
10 | Senior Warden Tyree Consistory #64, past Potentate of Aahmes | ||||||
11 | Temple #132, past Worshipful Master and current Treasurer of | ||||||
12 | Southern Cross Lodge #112, past Worthy Patron of Queen | ||||||
13 | Elizabeth Chapter #16, O.E.S., P.H.A., Deputy Grand Director of | ||||||
14 | Security Eureka Grand Chapter, O.E.S., State of Illinois, | ||||||
15 | P.H.A., and past High Priest York Right Masonry; and
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16 | WHEREAS, The passing of James William "J.W." Cowan has been | ||||||
17 | deeply felt by many, especially his wife, Betty; his stepsons, | ||||||
18 | Tony Sayles and Randy (Chantel) Sayles; his father, Reverend | ||||||
19 | William Cowan; his brother, John (Karen) Cowan; his sisters, | ||||||
20 | Darlean (Richard) King and Patricia Cowan; his stepsister, Ocie | ||||||
21 | B. Atkins; his grandchildren, Latadzja Ferguson, Jamian Poole, | ||||||
22 | and Rachan Sayles; his special son, Henry (Precious) Poole; his | ||||||
23 | aunt, Fannie Grady; all of East St. Louis; and his | ||||||
24 | brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, cousins, and | ||||||
25 | many special friends and neighbors; he was preceded in death by | ||||||
26 | his mother, Susie Lee; his brothers, Aaron and Otis; and his | ||||||
27 | daughter, Jennifer; therefore, be it
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28 | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL | ||||||
29 | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of | ||||||
30 | James William "J.W." Cowan, a man who will be remembered for | ||||||
31 | his many years of community service and devotion to the East | ||||||
32 | St. Louis community; and be it further
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1 | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | ||||||
2 | presented to the family of Mr. Cowan as an expression of our | ||||||
3 | sincerest condolences at the loss of their loved one, a man who | ||||||
4 | was a pillar of his community.
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