HR1352 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1352 LRB096 22667 KXB 43835 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Mary Lou Cowlishaw, who passed away on June 23, 2010 at the age of 78; and

WHEREAS, Mary Lou Cowlishaw was born on February 20, 1932, in Rockford, to Donald George and Mildred Corinne (Hayes) Miller; she graduated as valedictorian from West Rockford High School; she attended the University of Illinois and earned her degree in journalism; she also received two honorary degrees, including a Doctorate of Humane Letters from North Central College; and

WHEREAS, Mary Lou and Wayne Cowlishaw were married on July 24, 1954; the couple was happily married for over 50 years; together, they had 3 children, Beth (David) McDaniel, John (Jane) Cowlishaw, and Paula (Andrew) Rader, and 8 grandchildren, Jacob McDaniel, Zachary, Maxwell, Alexandria, and Rachel Green-Cowlishaw, and Emily, Elizabeth and John Paul (JP) Rader; she was preceded in death by her parents and her son, John; and

WHEREAS, Soon after their marriage, Mary Lou Cowlishaw and her husband moved to Naperville, where she began her career as a journalist in 1958; she worked for the Naperville Sun for many years, earning a 1st-place award from the Illinois Press Association for a series on the unacceptable conditions in a nearby nursing home; in 1972, she was elected as a member of Naperville Unit District 203's school board, where she developed a passion for improving education; and

WHEREAS, Mary Lou Cowlishaw served as a school board member for more than a decade before being elected to represent the 41st District in the Illinois House of Representatives in 1983; her district included nearly all of Naperville Township, part of Lisle Township, and most of the city of Naperville; and

WHEREAS, As a legislator, Mary Lou Cowlishaw's passion for advancing the State's educational system did not diminish; as a representative of the 41st District for 2 decades, she made issues related to education her top priority; she sponsored countless legislative initiatives, including Chicago school reform and a charter schools program that became a model for school reform throughout the State the nation at large; and

WHEREAS, Mary Lou Cowlishaw was the sponsor of the Education for Homeless Children Act, which minimizes educational disruption for homeless youth, promotes stability and continuity in education, and provides essential social support during periods of housing instability; she also was instrumental in the creation of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy in Aurora, which admits about 250 gifted students a year and is frequently listed on Newsweek's annual list of "Best High Schools in America"; and

WHEREAS, Former Representative Cowlishaw was a champion of women's rights and was an active member of the National Federation of Republican Women and the League of Women Voters of Naperville; she was also a founding member and former president of the Naperville Republican Women's Club; and

WHEREAS, Mary Lou Cowlishaw served as the Republican spokeswoman on the House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee and was an active member of the Higher Education Appropriations Committee, the Mental Health and Patient Abuse Committee, the Public Utilities Committee, and the Select Committee on Aging; on the national level, she served as chairperson of the NCSL Education Committee and the Education Committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures, a commissioner from Illinois on the Education Commission of States, and a member of the National Education Goals Panel; and

WHEREAS, Mary Lou Cowlishaw's many contributions did not go unnoticed; in recognition of her efforts, she received countless awards from State and local governmental agencies and civic groups, including the State Board of Education, the Illinois Community College Trustees Association, and the Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents of Schools; she won the Illinois Association of School Boards "Golden Apple" award numerous times; in 2001, she was the only lawmaker in Illinois to be recognized for Outstanding Contributions to Educational Improvement by the National Education Goals Panel; in 1994, she was named Legislator of the Year; her achievements and contributions as a legislator cannot be overstated; and

WHEREAS, Perhaps the most befitting recognition of Mary Lou Cowlishaw's commitment to educational excellence, access, and equity on behalf of students in Illinois and throughout the nation was when the Indian Prairie School District 204 honored her by choosing to name Naperville's new school building "Mary Lou Cowlishaw Elementary" in 1997; and

WHEREAS, As a legislator, Mary Lou Cowlishaw maintained that education is the number one determinant of an individual's quality of life; for this reason, education was her top priority, even following her retirement from the Illinois General Assembly; only 4 weeks after her departure from State government, she accepted a position as an adjunct professor of education at North Central College, where she was dedicated to furthering the education of Illinois' youth; and

WHEREAS, As a result of her tireless efforts, Mary Lou Cowlishaw has left Illinois a better, more hopeful place than when she entered the world 78 years ago; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with her family, friends, and the countless people whose lives have been blessed by her presence, the passing of a friend, a former colleague, and an inspiration to all, Mary Lou Cowlishaw; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Mary Lou Cowlishaw as a symbol of our sympathy for their loss and as an expression of our profound gratitude and respect.