E O McCowen
June 29, 1877 - November 4, 1953
Long Illness Takes E. O. McCowen
Longtime Scioto County School Leader and Congressman Dies
The Portsmouth Times, November 4, 1953, pp. 1 & 24
Suffering complications, former Congressman Edward O. McCowen, 76, widely known educator and Republican leader, died at 2 a.m. today at his home in Wheelersburg.
Mr. McCowen served six years in Congress 1943 - 1948 representing the old 6th Congressional District.
He was county superintendent of schools from 1914 to 1942 when he retired to become a condidate for Congress. He was succeeded by his son, County Superintendent, E. R. McCowen.
Considered a congressman who reflected the views of his constitutents, Mr. McCowen served as chairman of a House subcommittee on education and was a member of the labor committee. He was a strong supporter of the Constitution and opposed left wing trends.
For convenience of the public, Mr. McCowen maintained an office here during his service in Congress and returned as often as possible to discuss problems with the people. He was the first Scioto Countian elected to Congress since the late Henry Bannon served in 1905 - 1906.
Education Main Objective
While a keen student of politics and a formidable leader of his party, his life's work was dedicted to education. He was an outstanding educator and was widely known through Ohio in the education field.
He was the first county superintendent of Scioto County, being selected in 1914 and among the first county superintendents in the state after passage of an act by the State Legislature establishing the office.
Supt. McCowen was an exponent of centralized school systems and directed the reorganization of the county school system. He led the fight to consolidate the school districts and build large central elementary and high schools. He believed that centralized schools were more efficient and offered the children better educational opportunities.
As early as 1915 he recommended the adoption of uniform textbooks and all districts in the county accepted the plan. Music instruction was unknown in the rural schools, except for one or two of the village schools.
Following Mr. McCowen's lead, the rural boards established vocal and instrumental music classes, manual training for boys, and home economics for girls and offered broader curriculums.
When he became superintendent there were 120 of the famous "old red" school houses in the county. Most were the one-room schools housing the elementary grades one to eight. There were only two first grade high schools and no consolidated schools in the county districts.
Soon after becoming superintendent Mr. McCowen mapped a long range program to improve all of the school districts by consolidation and erection of centralized buildings. Today Scioto County has eliminated all of the one-room schools and boasts numerous centralized elementary and high school structures.
Supt. McCowen led the fight for free textbooks, and free transportation for children living more than two miles from the nearest school.
A native of South Webster, Mr. McCowen attended South Webster schools and received an A. B. degree at Ohio Northern University, a B.S. degree in education at Ohio State University and a master's degree at the University of Cincinnati. He taught school at South Webster, Catlettsburg, Proctorville and Wheelersburg. He served as teacher and principal before becoming superintendent.
Headed State Group
Active in school associations, he was a life member of the National Education Association, served as president of Ohio Educational Association in 1938 was a member of the Ohio Association executive committee many years and president of Southeastern Ohio OEA. He was a Phi Deta Kappa and a trustee of Rio Grande College.
Mr. McCowen was a life-long member of Wheelersburg Methodist Church. He was a 22nd Degree Mason and a postmaster of Western Sun Lodge of Masons at Wheelersburg. He also was a member of Portsmouth Kiwanis Club.
Mr. McCowen had been in ill health many months. He was a patient in Mercy Hospital for two weeks recently and was moved home a week ago when his condition showed improvement. His condition became critical Monday.
Born June 29, 1877, he was a son of the late William H. and Frances McCowen of South Webster. He was married August 19, 1902 at Russell, Kentucky to Miss Clara E. Smith McCowen who survives.
He is also survived by four children: County Superintendent E. R. McCowen, Mrs. Frances Smith, wife of Clarence W. Smith of St. Clairsville, employee of Wheeling Steel Corporation; Mrs. Eva Keller, teaher at Oakwood School, Dayton and wife of J. L. Keller; and Mrs. Kathryn Carter, wife of William L. Carver of Bridgeport, Connecticut, employee of Dictaphone, Inc. and five grandchildren Ronald L. McCowen, Theodore Smith, Corliss Carter, Bernard McCowen, also preceeded Mr. McCowen in death.
The body is at Harrison Funeral Home in Wheelersburg where it may be viewed after 7 tonight. The body will remain at the funeral home.