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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives wish to honor the life of former State 
4Representative Frederick Harris Rowe of Jacksonville, who 
5passed away at the age of 89 on September 8, 2013, ending an 
6exceptional life of community and political service; and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, Harris Rowe was born on November 10, 1923 in 
8Jacksonville; he was educated in the Jacksonville school system 
9and graduated from Jacksonville High School with the Class of 
101941; he subsequently earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from 
11Illinois College in Jacksonville; and
  
 
12    WHEREAS, During World War II, Harris Rowe served in the 
13United States Army Air Corps and served in the South Pacific 
14Theater; he later earned his Juris Doctorate from Northwestern 
15University Law School; and
  
 
16    WHEREAS, After receiving his law degree in 1950, Harris 
17Rowe joined his father in the administration of Central 
18National Life Insurance Company, where he served as secretary 
19and treasurer; he later served as president and CEO after the 
20death of his father; and
  
 
21    WHEREAS, Harris Rowe married the love of his life, Alice 
 
 
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1Mary Crabtree, on December 22, 1954 in Jacksonville; and
  
 
2    WHEREAS, In addition to his successful career as a 
3businessman, Harris Rowe held many leadership positions within 
4his community, including chairman of the Board of Trustees of 
5MacMurray College, chairman of the Board of Trustees of 
6Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, director of the 
7Illinois State Chamber of Commerce, president of the 
8Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce,  president of the 
9Jacksonville Kiwanis Club, and a member of the Morgan County, 
10Illinois, and American Bar Associations; and
  
 
11    WHEREAS, When Harris Rowe was in junior high, he contracted 
12polio; as a survivor, he served as chairman of the Morgan 
13County Chapter of the National Polio Foundation for many years; 
14and
 
15    WHEREAS, Harris Rowe also had a love of politics which was 
16instilled in him through his father, Richard Yates Rowe, who 
17served as State Treasurer and Secretary of State, and his 
18great-uncles, Illinois Governors Richard Yates and Richard 
19Yates Jr.; and
 
20    WHEREAS, The political career of Harris Rowe includes 35 
21years as precinct committeeman, 28 years as chairman of the 
22Morgan County Republican Central Committee, and 8 years as 
 
 
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1alderman for the City of Jacksonville; he served as State 
2Representative of the 49th District in the Illinois General 
3Assembly with the Republican Caucus for 6 years; he was also 
4one of 59 successful Republican candidates on the State-wide 
5at-large ballot in 1964 and was the Republican candidate for 
6State Treasurer in 1966; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Harris Rowe served as director of the Young 
8Republicans organization and was elected as a delegate to the 
9Republican National Convention twice; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Above all, Harris Rowe was a dedicated family man 
11who was a devoted to his wife, his 4 daughters, his 7 
12grandchildren, and his 2 great-grandchildren; therefore, be it
  
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
14NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
15we honor the life of Harris Rowe, acknowledge the passing of a 
16remarkable man who was committed to serving others, and offer 
17our sincere condolences to his family and friends; and be it 
18further
  
 
19    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
20presented to the family of Harris Rowe as an expression of our 
21sincere sympathy and gratitude to a man who dedicated his life 
22to community and political service and was an asset to the 
 
 
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1Republican Party.