05 LC 98
0535
House
Resolution 396
By:
Representatives Wilkinson of the
52nd,
Houston of the
170th,
Ashe of the
56th,
Orrock of the
58th,
Smyre of the
132nd,
and others
A
RESOLUTION
Celebrating
and honoring the life of Mrs. Tillie K. Fowler; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS,
Tillie K. Fowler was born in 1942 and grew up in Milledgeville, Georgia, the
daughter of loving parents, Culver and Katherine Kidd; and
WHEREAS,
receiving both her bachelor's degree and law degree from Emory University, Mrs.
Fowler moved to Washington, D.C., to work as a congressional staffer for
Representative Robert Stephens and later as Counsel in the White House Office of
Consumer Affairs under President Richard Nixon; and
WHEREAS,
in 1968, she married Mr. L. Buck Fowler, and, relocating to Jacksonville,
Florida, put her professional career on hold to raise their two wonderful
daughters, Tillie Anne and Elizabeth; and
WHEREAS,
during this time, she shared her talent and expertise with a number of
charitable organizations, including the American Red Cross and Volunteer
Jacksonville; and
WHEREAS,
she began her political career in 1985 when she was elected to the Jacksonville
City Council where she earned the respect of her colleagues and developed a
reputation for achieving bipartisan consensus, which would later characterize
her career as a legislator, and, despite a 16 to 3 Democrat to Republican ratio,
became the first Republican and first woman to serve as that body's president;
and
WHEREAS,
in 1992, Mrs. Fowler was elected to the United States Congress and secured an
appointment to the House Armed Services committee, an achievement critical to
the many military installations in her district; and
WHEREAS,
as a knowledgeable and articulate member of this committee and the Subcommittee
on Oversight, Investigations, and Emergency Management, she was appointed by the
Speaker to a 3-member task force created to investigate allegations of sexual
harassment and abuse at United States military training bases; investigated and
made valuable suggestions to improve the country's preparedness for a domestic
terrorist attack a full year and a half before the terrible events of September
11, 2001; and served on the U.S. Naval Academy Board of Visitors, Stennis Center
for Public Service Board of Trustees, Defense Department's Centers for Security
Studies Board of Visitors, and the House Page Board; and
WHEREAS,
her extraordinary efforts and determination to ensure a strong United States
military were recognized with the Navy's Distinguished Public Service Award and
the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service, the highest
civilian awards given by the Navy and the Department of Defense; and
WHEREAS,
she served as Deputy Majority Whip for six years and, in 1998, was chosen by her
Republican colleagues to be the Vice Chairman of the Republican Conference,
making her the highest-ranking woman in the United States Congress when she
retired; and
WHEREAS,
her distinguished career in public service stands as a respected example of
effective bipartisan leadership, wisdom, foresight, and outstanding dedication
to our nation's military men and women and the citizens they
protect.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of
this body join in celebrating the life of Mrs. Tillie K. Fowler and honoring
her many contributions to the State of Georgia and the United States of
America.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the family of
Mrs. Tillie K. Fowler.