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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives are pleased to congratulate Dr. Sam H. McGowen 
4on the occasion of his retirement as Superintendent of 
5Mascoutah Community Unit School District #19; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, Sam McGowen earned his bachelor's degree in social 
7studies with a minor in English from Southeast Missouri State 
8University in 1966; he subsequently earned his master's degree 
9and specialist degree in educational administration from 
10Southeast Missouri State University and his doctorate in 
11educational administration from St. Louis University; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, Sam McGowen has served in the education field for 
1345 years; he began his career as a social studies teacher in 
14Bonne Terre, Missouri in 1967; after serving as a teacher and 
15administrator in numerous Missouri schools, he accepted the 
16position of Superintendent of Paris School District #95 in 
171988; in 1994, he took the position of Superintendent of 
18Mascoutah Community Unit School District #19, where he remained 
19until his retirement on June 30, 2012; and
  
 
20    WHEREAS, During his tenure as Superintendent, Sam McGowen 
21presided over a period of student growth in the district while 
22promoting a vision statement that emphasized a "Community of 
 
 
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1Excellent Schools"; student enrollment during his tenure 
2swelled from 2,700 students to over 3,600; numerous additions 
3and renovations to the district's facilities were also 
4completed during his tenure; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Sam McGowen retired from the Missouri Army 
6National Guard at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel on September 
7of 1993 after 27 years of active and reserve service; at the 
8time of his retirement, he served as the Operations Officer of 
9the Missouri Army National Guard's 35th Engineer Brigade; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Sam McGowen is a member of the American 
11Association of School Administrators, the Illinois Association 
12of School Administrators, the Illinois State Board of Education 
13Accreditation Review Team, the Illinois Association of School 
14Boards, the Illinois Association of School Business Officials, 
15Phi Delta Kappa, the Military Impacted Schools Association, the 
16National Association of Federally Impacted Schools, the 
17Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 
18Belleville Area Special Services Cooperative Executive 
19Committee, the St. Clair County/SWIC Regional Vocation System 
20Board of Control, the Retired National Guard Association, the 
21Mascoutah Chamber of Commerce, Main Street  Mascoutah, and the 
22Mascoutah First Baptist Church; and
  
 
23    WHEREAS, A retirement reception in honor of Sam McGowen 
 
 
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1will be held at the Mascoutah High School Cafeteria on May 24, 
22012; and
  
 
3    WHEREAS, Sam McGowen serves as a model of hard work, 
4integrity, and dedication for the people of the State of 
5Illinois; therefore, be it
  
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
7NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
8we congratulate Dr. Sam H. McGowen on the occasion of his 
9retirement and wish him many happy and healthy retirement 
10years; and be it further
  
 
11    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
12presented to Sam McGowen as a symbol of our esteem and respect.