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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Iola
4McGowan of Chicago, who passed away on May 24, 2012; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Iola McGowan was born on September 8, 1936; proud
6of her West Side roots, she graduated from Farragut High School
7in 1954; she started a family and spearhead neighborhood
8efforts in her area; she later graduated from Northeastern
9Illinois University; and
 
10    WHEREAS, She began her political career at the precinct
11level; she ascended through the ranks of the Democratic Party
12to become the Director of Consumer Services for the City of
13Chicago under former Mayor Jane Byrne, serving a 6-year term;
14she was then appointed to head the Model Cities Community
15Services program; she also developed an innovative classroom
16coloring book to teach children about becoming educated
17consumers; and
 
18    WHEREAS, She was a former Vice Chairman of the Illinois
19State Democratic Party and the Democratic National Committee;
20and she served as a Chicago Park District Commissioner; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Iola McGowan was known as the "First Lady of the

 

 

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1Westside" and served as the 29th Ward Committeeman for 4 years;
2she also served on the Board of Cook County Department of
3Corrections; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Iola McGowan was preceded in death by her husband,
5Adam "Donald" McGowan; her mother, Ernestine Martin; and her
6sister, Anna Pearson; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Iola McGowan is survived by her children, Rhonda
8Stivers (fiance, Matthew), Gregory McGowan (Patricia), and
9Allison McGowan (fiance, Shawn); her sister, Laverne Schaffer;
10her grandchildren, Jason Stivers, Ashley McGowan, and Whitney
11McGowan; and a host of nieces, nephews, family members, and
12friends; therefore, be it
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
14NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
15we mourn, along with her family and friends, the passing of
16Iola McGowan; and be it further
 
17    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
18presented to the family of Iola McGowan as a symbol of our
19sincere sympathy.