H.R. No. 881
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Family and friends are mourning the untimely loss of
Christopher Nicol McGowen, who died on March 2, 2017, at the age of
47; and
WHEREAS, Chris McGowen was born in Wiesbaden, Germany, on
April 2, 1969, to Olene and John McGowen; he was interested in
politics from an early age and served in student government and
other groups while attending S. R. Butler High School in
Huntsville, Alabama, and while earning his bachelor's degree in
communications at Auburn University; and
WHEREAS, In 1992, Mr. McGowen moved to Washington, D.C.,
where he worked for the Booknotes program on C-SPAN and then served
as a congressional staffer, including a stint as deputy press
secretary to former U.S. representative J. C. Watts of Oklahoma;
in 1996, he joined his father in a business venture affiliated with
the Atlanta Olympics, and he later worked in communications in
Atlanta for Cohn & Wolfe, Turner, and the Georgia Chamber of
Commerce, among others; in 2004, he returned to Washington, D.C.,
where he worked in government affairs for Novo Nordisk, Omada
Health, and the Insulet Corporation; and
WHEREAS, Mr. McGowen made friends readily and maintained
many friendships throughout his life; he also pursued innumerable
interests, including stylish clothing, military history, college
football, fishing, and grilling; a man of strong religious faith,
he was a valued member of Center Grove United Methodist Church in
Huntsville; and
WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Mr. McGowen enjoyed the love
and support of his wife, Kristi Barksdale; and
WHEREAS, Although his days were far too few, Chris McGowen
embraced life to the fullest, and he will forever remain a vibrant
presence for those who knew and loved him; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Christopher Nicol
McGowen and extend heartfelt sympathy to the members of his family:
to his wife, Kristi; to his mother, Olene McGowen; to his brother,
Carl McGowen; to his parents-in-law, Bob and Carol Barksdale; to
his sister-in-law, Erin Terry, and her husband, Dedric; and to his
other relatives and friends; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Chris
McGowen.
Craddick
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 881 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on March 23, 2017.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House