[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 129 (Wednesday, September 24, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1839-E1840]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


           CONGRATULATIONS TO THE REVEREND DR. ROBERT LOWERY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 24, 1997

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to congratulate 
the Reverend Dr. Robert Lowery on the 40-year anniversary of his 
dedicated service to St. Timothy Community Church in Gary, IN. Dr. 
Lowery will be honored by St. Timothy Church during a 3-day anniversary 
celebration, which will include a gala banquet to be held at St. 
Timothy Community Church on Saturday, September 27, 1997, at 6 p.m. The 
banquet, which is entitled ``A Tribute: The Man and His Message,'' will 
be in honor of Dr. Lowery's service to his parish, as well as his 
demonstrated commitment to improving the communities of northwest 
Indiana.
  On September 27, 1957, Dr. Lowery began his ministry at St. Timothy 
Community Church as an interim pastor armed with several degrees and an 
enthusiasm for serving the community. With a masters of divinity from 
Garret Theological Seminary and a doctorate of ministry from Chicago 
Theological Seminary, Dr.

[[Page E1840]]

Lowery was well prepared for the self-defined role he would accept to 
spiritually guide, sustain, and shepherd the members of his parish and 
community. Since his arrival at St. Timothy Community Church, Dr. 
Lowery has devoted his time to providing guidance and training for the 
youth of northwest Indiana, planning and supporting positive urban 
initiatives, and addressing crucial issues related to education, health 
care, crime, and teenage pregnancy.
  Dr. Lowery has carried out his youth-, education-, and urban-
development-oriented agenda through his voluntarism with a number of 
prominent community service organizations. Currently, Dr. Lowery serves 
on the board of directors for the Northwest Indiana Boys and Girls 
Club, an organization which provides educational, social, and 
recreational services for young people, supports the Marion Home, a 
residential facility for young pregnant women, and is a Scoutmaster for 
Gary Boy Scout Troop 53. Through his work with such distinguished 
organizations as the Gary Educational Development Foundation and the 
Northwest Indiana Urban League, he has been instrumental in structuring 
a comprehensive framework for educational programs, which divert the 
energies of youth into productive activities. Dr. Lowery has also aided 
urban development during his tenure as an executive board member for 
the Northwest Indiana Urban League, Referral Emergency Services, and 
the Lake County Mental Health Association. In addition to faithfully 
serving numerous other organizations, Dr. Lowery holds an associate 
professorship at Indiana University-Northwest, where he teaches in the 
area of church society and psycho-dynamics of minority problems.
  Over the years, Dr. Lowery has been recognized by a number of 
institutions for his outstanding commitment to northwest Indiana 
communities. As a result of his theological and humanitarian efforts, 
he was awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Purdue 
University-Calumet in 1996, and an honorary doctorate of divinity from 
the Chicago Theological Seminary in 1991. In addition, he has received 
countless awards for his community service efforts from such 
organizations as the Boy Scouts of America, the NAACP, the March of 
Dimes, and the Lake Area United Way. Some of the more prominent service 
honors bestowed upon Dr. Lowery include the 1990 State of Indiana 
Sagamore of the Wabash Award, the 1996 Calumet College St. Joseph the 
Worker Award, and the 1997 Indiana University-Northwest Chancellor's 
Medallion Award Citation.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my other distinguished colleagues to join 
me in commending Dr. Lowery on his outstanding accomplishments during 
his 40 years of service to St. Timothy Community Church and its 
surrounding communities. His wife, Josephine Mathews-Lowery, and their 
daughters, Gay Marlene Lowery, Lynn Michele Lowery-Darby, and Jan Avis-
Lowery, should be proud of his efforts, as his leadership has served as 
a beacon of hope throughout the Gary community. Dr. Lowery's devotion 
to improving the quality of life for the people of Indiana's First 
Congressional District is truly inspirational.

                          ____________________