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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
COMMEMORATING THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF H. WOODS “WOODY” BOWMAN
WHEREAS, H. Woods “Woody” Bowman, chief financial officer for Cook County, former state representative from the 18th district, treasured college professor and dedicated community advocate died on July 10, 2015 leaving behind a devoted family, countless friends and a community profoundly enriched for having known him; and
WHEREAS, Woody Bowman was born and raised in Charleston, West Virginia. His talents revealed themselves very early in life. He was an exceptional student; receiving a dual degree in physics and economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He later earned a Master’s Degree in public administration with highest honors and a Ph.D. in economics from the Maxwell School of Syracuse University; and
WHEREAS Woody Bowman came to Chicago as a young man to work as a research economist for the Federal Reserve Bank. During that same time he shared his exceptional talents with his students when he taught economics at the University of Illinois at Chicago;
WHEREAS, Woody Bowman immediately became known for his scrupulous integrity and wisdom in the area of economics and ethics. His expertise in budgetary issues was unparalleled and later made him a trusted advisor to many not-for-profit organizations, politicians and students; and
WHEREAS, Woody Bowman was elected to the Illinois General Assembly by the voters of the 18th district and served for over a decade as their state representative. While there, he made his mark early as a staunch supporter of human services and education. He was a tireless advocate for civil rights and the rights of the mentally ill. More than anything, he is widely credited with vastly improving the accountability and transparency of the budgeting process while acting as chair of the House Appropriations Committee. He had the unique ability to achieve his political goals without rancor and as a result was genuinely admired and respected by those on both sides of the aisle; and
WHEREAS, Woody Bowman’s financial expertise was recognized by Cook County Board President Richard Phelan who selected him to serve as Cook County’s chief financial officer, a position he held for four years. Through the years he has continued to serve the citizens of Cook County, most recently as member of Cook County’s task force on unincorporated areas; and
WHEREAS, Woody Bowman returned to academia in 1995, becoming an assistant professor at DePaul University. He was uniformly regarded as generous instructor, colleague and mentor who respected and took seriously his responsibility to shape the next generation of leaders. Later, he became professor emeritus at DePaul University's School of Public Service where he remained until he retired. Although he had stopped teaching, he remained a vital part of the campus and was active on various projects at the school; and
WHEREAS, Woody Bowman was a prolific nonprofit researcher and author; he was a regular contributor to the Nonprofit Quarterly Ethicist column. Among his other articles were “Issues in Nonprofit Finance Research: Surplus, Endowment, and Endowment Portfolios,” with H.P. Tuckman and D.R. Young, “The Contribution of Corporation Law to Civil Society,” and “The Economic Value of Volunteers to Organizations.” His writing was insightful and informative and was frequently singled out for recognition; and
WHEREAS, Woody Bowman was honored with many awards including the Hodgkinson Research Prize from the Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA) for his book, “Finance Fundamentals for Nonprofits: Building Capacity and Sustainability.” The prize is given to the best book on philanthropy and the nonprofit sector that informs policy and practice; he was later honored with the Best Reviewer Award. DePaul University honored him with their Excellence in Public Service Award in 1999; and
WHEREAS, Woody Bowman will long be remembered for his thorough work and achievement, his high ethical standards, professionalism, and excellent character. Above all, he will be remembered as a model of kindness and affability; and
WHEREAS Woody Bowman was also well known as a man who was extremely generous with his time. He was a member of the Board of Housing Options for the Mentally Ill in Evanston and member of many of its committees for more than twenty-five years. He briefly served as interim president and CEO on a pro bono basis for Goodwill Industries of Metropolitan Chicago. He served on the board of ARNOVA for many years and chaired the planning committee for the 2010 annual conference. He also was a member of the Governor’s Taxpayer Action Board and the Civic Federation’s Cook County Modernization Committee in; and
WHEREAS, the impact felt by the loss of Woody Bowman is significant and has left a tremendous void in the community. His loss will be felt most acutely by his wife of nearly 30 years, Michele Thompson; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of Commissioners of Cook County that the Board on behalf of the nearly the 5.2 million residents of Cook County commemorates the extraordinary life of H. Woods “Woody Bowman, and herewith expresses its sincere gratitude for the invaluable contributions he has made to the Citizens of Cook County, Illinois;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this text be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body and a suitable copy of same be tendered to the family of Woody Bowman, that his memory may be so honored.
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