Difference between revisions of "William O. Cowger"
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'''William Owen Cowger''' (January 1, 1922 – October 2, 1971), also known as '''Bill Cowger''',<ref>Runyon, Keith (February 5, 2017). [https://www.huffpost.com/entry/remembering-sen-marlow-co_b_9167644 Remembering Sen. Marlow Cook: One of Kentucky’s last moderate Republicans]. ''Huffington Post''. Retrieved September 21, 2021.</ref> was a [[Moderate Republican]] [[mayor]] of [[Louisville]], [[Kentucky]], from 1961 to 1965 and a [[United States Representative]] for the 3rd congressional district for two terms from 1967 to 1971. He died of a fatal illness nine months after leaving the House.<ref name=findagrave>William Owen Cowger (1922-1971) - Find A Grave Memorial, accessdate=September 17, 2021.</ref> | '''William Owen Cowger''' (January 1, 1922 – October 2, 1971), also known as '''Bill Cowger''',<ref>Runyon, Keith (February 5, 2017). [https://www.huffpost.com/entry/remembering-sen-marlow-co_b_9167644 Remembering Sen. Marlow Cook: One of Kentucky’s last moderate Republicans]. ''Huffington Post''. Retrieved September 21, 2021.</ref> was a [[Moderate Republican]] [[mayor]] of [[Louisville]], [[Kentucky]], from 1961 to 1965 and a [[United States Representative]] for the 3rd congressional district for two terms from 1967 to 1971. He died of a fatal illness nine months after leaving the House.<ref name=findagrave>William Owen Cowger (1922-1971) - Find A Grave Memorial, accessdate=September 17, 2021.</ref> | ||
| − | Cowger was born in Hastings in Adams County in southeastern [[Nebraska]], but moved to Louisville to study [[political science]] at the [[University of Louisville]]. | + | ==Background== |
| + | Cowger was born in Hastings in Adams County in southeastern [[Nebraska]], but moved to Louisville to study [[political science]] at the [[University of Louisville]]. After other graduate work and military service in [[World War II]], he returned to Louisville and became president of a mortgage loan company. | ||
| + | ==Political career== | ||
| + | In 1961, Cowger was elected mayor of Louisville for a single four-year term and was then ineligible under state law to have run for reelection in 1965.<ref name=findagrave/> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===U.S. House of Representatives=== | ||
Cowger then won the U.S. House seat in November 1966, when his party gained forty-seven seats in the mid-term elections under [[U.S. President]] [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]. Cowger voted in favor of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 proposed by President Johnson to halt racial discrimination in the sale and rental of housing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/90-1967/h113|title=TO PASS H.R. 2516 ...}}</ref> | Cowger then won the U.S. House seat in November 1966, when his party gained forty-seven seats in the mid-term elections under [[U.S. President]] [[Lyndon B. Johnson]]. Cowger voted in favor of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 proposed by President Johnson to halt racial discrimination in the sale and rental of housing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/90-1967/h113|title=TO PASS H.R. 2516 ...}}</ref> | ||
Cowger unsuccessfully sought re-election in 1970 while dealing with a fatal illness, but was defeated by Democrat Romano L. Mazzoli.<ref name=findagrave/> Cowger was the last Republican representative for the 3rd district seat until [[educator]] Ann Meagher Northup (born 1948) held the seat for the decade from 1997 to 2007. Since that time, the Democrat John Yarmuth has been consistently reelected in the district. | Cowger unsuccessfully sought re-election in 1970 while dealing with a fatal illness, but was defeated by Democrat Romano L. Mazzoli.<ref name=findagrave/> Cowger was the last Republican representative for the 3rd district seat until [[educator]] Ann Meagher Northup (born 1948) held the seat for the decade from 1997 to 2007. Since that time, the Democrat John Yarmuth has been consistently reelected in the district. | ||
| + | ==Death and burial== | ||
Along with his wife, the former Cynthia T. Thompson (died 1995), and son, John Garvin Cowger (1954-2014), Cowger is interred at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville.<ref name=findagrave/> | Along with his wife, the former Cynthia T. Thompson (died 1995), and son, John Garvin Cowger (1954-2014), Cowger is interred at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville.<ref name=findagrave/> | ||
Revision as of 01:13, September 22, 2021
| William Owen Cowger | |
 | |
| In office January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1971 | |
| Preceded by | Charles R. Farnsley |
|---|---|
| Succeeded by | Romano L. Mazzoli |
Mayor of Louisville, Kentucky
| |
| In office December 1961 – December 1965 | |
| Preceded by | Bruce Hoblitzell |
| Succeeded by | Kenneth Schmied |
| Born | January 1, 1922 Hastings, Adams County, Nebraska |
| Died | October 2, 1971 (aged 49) Louisville, Kentucky |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Cynthia T. Thompson Cowger |
| Children | David Garvin Cowger |
| Residence | Louisville, Kentucky |
| Alma mater | University of Louisville |
| Occupation | Businessman |
Military Service
| |
| Service/branch | United States Navy |
| Rank | Midshipman |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
William Owen Cowger (January 1, 1922 – October 2, 1971), also known as Bill Cowger,[1] was a Moderate Republican mayor of Louisville, Kentucky, from 1961 to 1965 and a United States Representative for the 3rd congressional district for two terms from 1967 to 1971. He died of a fatal illness nine months after leaving the House.[2]
Background
Cowger was born in Hastings in Adams County in southeastern Nebraska, but moved to Louisville to study political science at the University of Louisville. After other graduate work and military service in World War II, he returned to Louisville and became president of a mortgage loan company.
Political career
In 1961, Cowger was elected mayor of Louisville for a single four-year term and was then ineligible under state law to have run for reelection in 1965.[2]
U.S. House of Representatives
Cowger then won the U.S. House seat in November 1966, when his party gained forty-seven seats in the mid-term elections under U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson. Cowger voted in favor of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 proposed by President Johnson to halt racial discrimination in the sale and rental of housing.[3]
Cowger unsuccessfully sought re-election in 1970 while dealing with a fatal illness, but was defeated by Democrat Romano L. Mazzoli.[2] Cowger was the last Republican representative for the 3rd district seat until educator Ann Meagher Northup (born 1948) held the seat for the decade from 1997 to 2007. Since that time, the Democrat John Yarmuth has been consistently reelected in the district.
Death and burial
Along with his wife, the former Cynthia T. Thompson (died 1995), and son, John Garvin Cowger (1954-2014), Cowger is interred at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville.[2]
References
- ↑ Runyon, Keith (February 5, 2017). Remembering Sen. Marlow Cook: One of Kentucky’s last moderate Republicans. Huffington Post. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 William Owen Cowger (1922-1971) - Find A Grave Memorial, accessdate=September 17, 2021.
- ↑ TO PASS H.R. 2516 ....