[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 68 (Tuesday, May 5, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1058]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 THE 90TH BIRTHDAY OF VIRGINIA B. COWEN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 5, 2009

  Mr. ORTIZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Virginia B. Cowen 
of Brownsville, Texas, who on May 13 will celebrate her 90th birthday 
surrounded by family and friends.
  Virginia was born in the small Midwestern town of Prosperity in 
Missouri, and graduated Valedictorian from Sheldon High School at the 
age of 15. She went on to study at Missouri State University, but after 
her third year there, she followed her ``heart song'' to the Dallas 
Divinity School in Texas.
  Virginia later moved to Brownsville, Texas, on the tip of South 
Texas, where she met the love of her life, Raphael Cowen, an attorney, 
and the two married. Virginia and Raphael had six boys and five girls, 
a total of 11 children.
  After Raphael became ill, Virginia worked as a school teacher in 
order to maintain the family, and all the children learned the 
importance of work ethic early on in life. They shined shoes, cut 
yards, sold newspapers, and sacked groceries.
  Although Virginia lost her beloved husband, friend and companion, 
Raphael, to cancer, her faith in God remained strong.
  Virginia, then 42 years old, learned how to drive so she could take 
her third and fourth born sons to Brownsville High School. She knew 
that a strong solid education was the key to success and instilled that 
in her 11 children. Shortly after, she accepted a fellowship at Texas 
A&M University where she earned her master's degree in English 
Literature and worked on her doctoral thesis.
  For many years, Virginia taught at the then-Texas Southmost College, 
now The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College, 
where she was a tenured faculty member and after many years of serving 
and educating the bright minds of South Texas retired.
  In retirement she traveled to England and throughout Europe to visit 
birthplaces, homes and graves of the literary authors she has admired 
for a lifetime. She has done it all.
  Today, Virginia continues to enjoy a happy life with her 11 grown 
children and 25 grandchildren. I ask that my colleagues join me in 
commemorating Virginia on her 90th birthday.

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