79R5636 BJM-D

By:  Gallego                                                      H.R. No. 604



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Memories of a life filled with joyful times and 
meaningful accomplishments may comfort the family and friends of 
Sidney Walker Cowan, Jr., of Del Rio, who died on February 21, 2004, 
at the age of 67; and
	WHEREAS, Sid Cowan was born in El Paso to Elizabeth Bean and 
Sidney Walker Cowan, Sr., on March 14, 1936; reared throughout West 
Texas, he learned the value of hard work at his father's gas 
distribution company and his uncle's farm and ranch; and
	WHEREAS, Following his graduation from Fort Hancock High 
School, he studied at Texas Tech University and later graduated 
from New Mexico A&M University in Las Cruces; and
	WHEREAS, While this esteemed Texan enjoyed his newfound 
career as a buyer for Swift and Company, he longed for the farms and 
ranches of his youth and returned to West Texas in 1959 to join his 
father as a partner in Circle C Ranches; a decade later, he took on a 
second job as a federal crop inspector and was eventually promoted 
to the position of assistant state director for the Federal Crop 
Insurance Program in Texas; and
	WHEREAS, The 1970s saw another career change for Mr. Cowan; 
inspired by his uncle, an attorney, he moved his family to San 
Antonio, where he worked a full-time job while earning his juris 
doctorate from St. Mary's Law School; after his graduation, he was 
employed as an assistant district attorney for Bexar County and 
later worked with a private law firm before founding Cowan & Cowan 
in Del Rio with his son, David; and
	WHEREAS, Never forgetting his roots, Mr. Cowan was a champion 
of the working man and a lifelong member of the Democratic party, 
which he served as a precinct chair and election judge; in 
recognition of his service, he was named the 1998 Val Verde County 
Democratic Party's Democrat of the Year; and
	WHEREAS, Those fortunate enough to have known Sid Cowan will 
remember his zest for life and his love of family and community; 
although he will be greatly missed, his legacy will live on in the 
hearts of those whose lives he so richly blessed; now, therefore, be 
it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature hereby pay special tribute to the life of Sidney Walker 
Cowan, Jr., and extend deepest sympathy to the members of his 
family: to his sons, David Clay Cowan and his wife, Dolores, James 
Breck Cowan, and John Paul Cowan and his wife, Cindy; to his 
grandchildren, Joshua, Courtney, Amanda, James, Sydney, Lauren, 
Jeffrey, and Nathan Cowan and Bailey, Valerie, and Alexis Smith; to 
his son-in-law, Charles Smith; and to the other relatives and many 
friends of this much-loved man; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of 
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Sidney 
Walker Cowan, Jr.