TITLE: Honoring John Cowan on the occasion of his retirement from the Texas Association of Dairymen.

SUMMARY: Honoring John Cowan on the occasion of his retirement from the Texas Association of Dairymen.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, John Cowan is retiring from the Texas Association of Dairymen in June 2011 after serving the organization in several capacities, including that of executive director, and after devoting almost 40 years to the dairy industry; and WHEREAS, Mr. Cowan began his career in 1970, when he accepted a position with an Associated Milk Producers truck facility in Dublin, Texas; over the years, he rose from washing milk trucks and tanks to assuming increasing levels of responsibility at different cooperative locations, all the while advancing his knowledge of the business through formal and informal education; and WHEREAS, A longtime resident of Dublin, Mr. Cowan also played an active civic role in that community during his years there; he served as president of the Dublin school board and as a member of the Dublin City Council, and in 1985 he was named Man of the Year; and WHEREAS, In 1990, he moved to Arlington to assume a new role with the Associated Milk Producers, which later merged with other cooperatives to form the Dairy Farmers of America; he subsequently became executive director of the newly created Texas Association of Dairymen, a post he held for eight years; and WHEREAS, Mr. Cowan has additionally worked to advance the interests of his field through his service on various boards and committees and through his involvement with many organizations and state agencies, including the Texas Critical Infrastructure Advisory Group, the State Technical Committee of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the United States Animal Health Association; and WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan has devoted countless hours to advocating for and defending the rights of dairy farmers; his contributions over the course of a distinguished career were recognized in 2009 when the Texas Agricultural Cooperative Council bestowed on him its highest honor, naming him Cooperator of the Year; and WHEREAS, John Cowan has been described by his peers as "a man of extreme importance to agriculture" and as "a hardworking, knowledgeable, honest and loyal representative [of] the industry"; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas hereby extend its thanks and appreciation to John Cowan for his years of service to the Texas dairy industry and wish him the best in his retirement; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Mr. Cowan as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives and Senate.