SR0391 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0391 LRB095 14027 GRL 39867 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Howard E. Brown of Decatur, who passed away on October 9, 2007; and

WHEREAS, Howard E. Brown was born in Springfield on June 22, 1922; he was the son of Zona Sharp Brown and Lorenza Dow Brown; and

WHEREAS, Howard E. Brown began his education at Illinois Wesleyan University, attending the college from 1941 to 1942; he received his bachelor's degree in education from Illinois State University and received his Masters Degree in Education in 1952 from Colorado State University in Greeley, Colorado; he received his Specialist in Educational Administration from Eastern Illinois University in 1971 and completed further graduate studies at Columbia University in New York and the University of Illinois at Champaign; in 1987, Howard received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Eastern Illinois University; and

WHEREAS, Howard E. Brown proudly served his country in the United States Army during the Second World War, where he fought in France, Holland, Belgium, and Germany; he served in the 104th Infantry Division, Service Company 414th Regiment; he achieved the rank of Master Sergeant and earned the Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star, and three Campaign Oak Leaf Clusters; and

WHEREAS, Howard E. Brown served as a professional educator for 43 years; he began his teaching career at Blue Mound High School in Blue Mound, where he taught world history, industrial arts, and coached basketball, baseball, and track; he became Principal of Blue Mound High School and then went on to become the Superintendent of Blue Mound Schools from 1956 to 1965; he served as Macon County Superintendent of Schools and Regional Superintendent of Macon/Piatt Region from 1965 to 1985; he also served as adjunct professor at Millikin University and Richland Community College; he became President of Richland Community College in 1985, retiring from this position in 1989; and

WHEREAS, After his retirement, Howard E. Brown served on the Richland Community College Board of Trustees and was President of the Foundation for a year; during his retirement, he became a member of the Golden K Kiwanis and was a founding member of the ROMEO (Retired Old Men Eating Out) Clubs in Illinois and Florida; and

WHEREAS, Howard E. Brown was a member of many community, civic, professional, and fraternal organizations; he was a 50-year member of the Rotary Club of Decatur and was elected Illinois President of Rotary in 1956; in 1968, he became President of the Area 4 Superintendents Association; he was President of the Decatur Area Arts Council from 1969 to 1970; he became President of the Macon County Mental Health Association in 1970; he was appointed by the State Superintendent of Education as a member of the Teacher Certification Board from 1970 to 1974; in 1975, Howard was elected President of the Regional Office of Superintendents; he served on the Area Junior College Steering Committee in 1976; during the 1970's, he directed and wrote a statewide study on declining enrollments in Illinois public schools at the request of State Superintendent of Education, Dr. Joseph Cronin; he was also appointed by Governor James Thompson to a statewide committee to establish a Master Teacher Program for the State of Illinois; in 1976, he was a member of the Macon County Planning Committee for the bicentennial celebration; in 1980, he served on the search committee to select a new Dean for the Department of Education at Eastern Illinois University; during the 1980's, he served on the Boards of the Decatur Chamber of Commerce, the United Way, the YMCA, the Salvation Army, Visiting Nurses, and Baby Talk; in 1982, he was Chairman of the High Risk Infant Screening Committee; and

WHEREAS, Howard E. Brown was a Thirty Second Degree Mason, an Ansar Shriner, and a member of the Decatur Shrine Club; he was a member of both the VFW and American Legion; he was a past member of the Macon County Historical Society and was a lifetime member of Phi Delta Kappa; and

WHEREAS, Howard E. Brown was a lifelong Methodist; his first church was the United Methodist in Springfield; in 1940, he was elected First District President of the Methodist Church League; in 1942, he served as a student pastor of the Hudson Methodist Church in Hudson; he was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Blue Mound and then the First United Methodist Church in Decatur; in 1967, he became chairman of the Billy Graham Golden Prairie Crusade for Christ in Decatur; he served on the First Church Foundation Board and Finance Committee; he was also a Methodist Lay Speaker and soloist for many church occasions; and

WHEREAS, Howard E. Brown was the recipient of many honors during his lifetime; he received the VFW Voice of Democracy Service Awards in 1968 and 1969 and from 1978 to 1980; in 1971, he received the Distinguished Service Award from the Macon County Council for Exceptional Children and received an honorary life membership from the National Congress of Parents and Teachers; he also received a Certificate of Appreciation from Richland College and the Freedom's Foundation Schoolman's Award in 1971; he was in Who's Who in Education in the Midwest in 1971; he was a nominee for State Superintendent of Education for the State of Illinois in 1980 and 1984; he received the Outstanding Contributor to Alternative Education Award from the Alternative Education Association in 1984; in 1996, he received the Certificate of Merit from the Illinois Community College Trustees Association; in 2004, he was honored by the Richland Community College Foundation Board at their first Legacy Society meeting; and

WHEREAS, Howard E. Brown was well known for his singing voice, singing at many community and civic events; one of his greatest honors was the opportunity to sing at events for President Ronald Reagan, President Gerald Ford, and President Richard Nixon, as well as his performance at an event for Vice-President Nelson Rockefeller; he will always be remembered by his family and friends for his moving rendition of "God Bless America"; he will also be remembered as an accomplished storyteller, particularly at Blue Mound Fall Festival "Parley in the Parlor" sessions; and

WHEREAS, Howard E. Brown was preceded in death by his brothers, Paul T. Brown and Clarence Dow Brown, and his sister, Fannie Mae Brown Stone; and

WHEREAS, Howard E. Brown is survived by his wife of 63 years, Helen Bundy Brown; his children, Bill W. (Linda) Brown, Becky (Ware) Flora, and Sally (Steve) Schepper; his grandchildren, Ware Flora, John Flora, Beth Denny, Jenny Brown, Sarah Schepper, and PFC Philip Schepper; and his 4 great-grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, On October 13, 2007, Howard E. Brown will be inducted into the Illinois State University College of Education Hall of Fame in recognition of his many accomplishments; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Howard E. Brown; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Howard E. Brown as an expression of our sympathy.