H.R. No. 115
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The death of Dr. Charles Eugene Cowles Jr. on
December 26, 2020, at the age of 52, leaves his loved ones to
reflect on a life of meaningful accomplishments and dedicated
service to his profession and his community; and
WHEREAS, Charles Cowles Jr. was born in Houston to Charles
and Carol Cowles on April 19, 1968, and he grew up with two
siblings, Jo Ann and Connie; after graduating from Greenwood
Village Christian Academy, he earned an associate degree in nursing
from the State University of New York and a bachelor's degree in
sports medicine from the University of Houston-Clear Lake; and
WHEREAS, From 1989 to 1998, Mr. Cowles worked as a
firefighter and senior paramedic in Beaumont, and from 1993 to
2004, he also taught and served as clinical coordinator of
emergency management services courses at San Jacinto College; he
completed his medical degree at The University of Texas Medical
School at Houston and served his residency in anesthesiology at The
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston; in 2013, he
received a master's degree in business administration from the
Physician Executive MBA Program of the University of Tennessee,
Knoxville; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Cowles was an associate professor and assistant
clinical director at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer
Center, where he was also divisional chief safety officer, incident
commander, and vice chair of the Acute and Critical Care Committee;
as a researcher, he specialized in the prevention of surgical and
operating room fires, neuro-anesthesiology, and tactical and
disaster medicine; he was a Fellow of the American Society of
Anesthesiologists; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Dr. Cowles served as the public health
officer for the City of Pasadena, earning a commendation from the
Harris County Precinct 8 Constable's Office; he was a board member
of the Pasadena Police Department's Emergency Response and SWAT
teams and the Houston Regional Active Attack Coordinated Training
Group, and he taught CPR and Stop the Bleed programs in his
community and at the Texas Capitol; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Cowles served his profession as assistant
treasurer of the Texas Society of Anesthesiologists,
treasurer/secretary of the Harris County Medical Society, chair of
the Texas Medical Association Council on Medical Education,
alternate delegate to the board of the American Society of
Anesthesiologists, and trustee of the Gulf Coast Regional Blood
Center and the Texas Medical Association Insurance Trust; and
WHEREAS, A man of deep religious faith, Dr. Cowles was a
deacon at First Baptist Church of Pasadena and a board member of
First Baptist Christian Academy and Youth Reach Houston, a
faith-based program for young men; he was also a proud conservative
Republican, and he often traveled to Austin and Washington, D.C.,
to advocate on behalf of his patients; and
WHEREAS, In 1995, Dr. Cowles met the love of his life,
Jennifer Kendrick, who was attending an emergency medical
technician course he was teaching; ever the professional, he waited
until the final day of the course to ask her on their first date,
which was on New Year's Eve 1995, and on May 19, 2000, the couple
were married; together they had three sons, Christopher, Caleb, and
Jake, whom Dr. Cowles referred to as "his cowboys"; a warm-hearted
man with a quick wit and a deep laugh, he was a skilled cook and
hunter, and he also took great pleasure in sipping bourbon, rooting
for the Houston Astros, wearing wild socks, listening to music, and
following the fortunes of the space program; and
WHEREAS, Charles Cowles was admired and respected for his
considerable gifts and achievements, as well as for his devotion to
his family, state, and nation, and he will forever remain a source
of inspiration for those he leaves behind; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Dr. Charles Eugene
Cowles Jr. and extend heartfelt sympathy to his relatives and many
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
Dr. Charles Cowles Jr.
Oliverson
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 115 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on March 10, 2021.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House