[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 71 (Thursday, May 17, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E826]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      RECOGNIZING THE CAREER AND RETIREMENT OF DR. SAM H. McGOWEN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 17, 2012

  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join 
me in recognizing the career of Dr. Sam H. McGowen as he retires as 
Superintendent of Mascoutah Community Unit School District #19, in 
Mascoutah, Illinois.
  Sam McGowen has built a 45-year career in education, both as a 
teacher and administrator. A native of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, Sam 
earned his Bachelor's Degree from Southeast Missouri State University 
in 1966 and began his education career as a social studies teacher in 
Bonne Terre Missouri. Sam would also earn a Master's from Southeast 
Missouri State and a doctorate in educational administration from St. 
Louis University.
  Sam's career evolved into school administration and this would lead 
him to positions as superintendent for several Missouri school 
districts before coming to Mascoutah, Illinois. Part of the attraction 
of the Mascoutah opportunity was Sam's familiarity with Scott Air Force 
Base. He had visited Scott many times as part of his duties in the 
Missouri National Guard. Knowing that many students in the Mascoutah 
School District were from military families and appreciating the 
Mascoutah community from his previous visits, Sam was intrigued by this 
opportunity.
  Sam McGowen's tenure as superintendent of Mascoutah Community Unit 
School District #19 has seen tremendous growth, both for the district 
and for the Mascoutah community. Enrollment has soared from 2,700 to 
3,600 students and new construction has been completed for both a new 
high school building and a new elementary school for students who 
reside on the base.
  This success comes in part because Sam understood the unique 
challenges that schools serving military families, such as Mascoutah, 
face. As a member of the Board of Directors for the National 
Association of Federally Impacted Schools and President of the Military 
Impacted Schools Association in 2001, Sam worked tirelessly on behalf 
of these students to ensure Impact Aid schools receive the necessary 
resources to provide their students with a quality education. Sam's 
dedication has made Mascoutah the successful school district it is 
today.
  Sam and his wife, Sue, reside in Mascoutah and have four children and 
eight grandchildren.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in an expression of 
appreciation to Dr. Sam H. McGowen for his years of dedicated service 
to the Mascoutah community and to wish him and his family the very best 
in the future.

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