Service Above Self Award Presented To Fred Cowan
By Karen Morrison
It’s such a challenge when considering recipients for the Rotary Service Above Self award, because all of us, as Rotarians, are ALL about “Service Above Self.” In fact, for most of us, that is the driving force behind our participation in Rotary. We serve on committees and do philanthropic good with gifts of time and treasure. We make a difference within this club, in our greater community, and indeed around the world with some of our international work.
There are some Rotarians that just stand out even among great servant leaders. Fred Cowan is one of those people.
Past President Jean West presented the award at our April 17th meeting. You can listen to her remarks HERE.
Click Read More to see some of the comments shared about Fred by fellow Rotarians.
Here are Jean's written notes:
It was 2014. The case was a Berrytown, Louisville, slaying. The Jefferson Circuit Court Judge in that case sentenced a man to three decades behind bars for the brutal shooting death. That judge, during sentencing, called gun violence a plague on our society. He said, in 2014, "For one reason or another, there is an epidemic of weapons, especially - but not exclusively - among young black men. He called it a multifaceted problem that is not being addressed, and said there has to be a better solution to conflicts than pulling out guns. That Judge is Fred Cowan. Fast-forward to 2023, the horrific Old National Bank shooting. As Rotarians, again as we did after the Brianna Taylor shooting and aftermath, we decided that as community leaders we could not be tone-deaf to the gun violence plaquing our community. Once again, our Community Impact Committee, under the leadership of Luke Schmidt, formed a Gun Violence Reduction subcommittee. Who better to lead that committee, than that judge who, almost ten years ago, saw the need? Judge Cowan has not wavered in his mission to help us understand the scope of this problem, by sharing information and attending presentations. And challenging us to focus, learn, and act.
From fellow Rotarians:
The Gun Violence Reduction committee was bound to be challenging from the start (to identify things a civic club can actually do to make a difference), so the fact that Fred stepped up to Chair it is in itself noteworthy. He organized multiple Saturday listening sessions with a long list of speakers, then pushed us to distill down to a few actionable items. I know he has had numerous conversations apart from committee meetings to further inform himself about these issues. He is a calm leader when conflicting views are expressed.
~Amy Luttrell
I’m thrilled to hear Fred will be honored—what a deserving recognition! Fred has done an outstanding job hosting and co-facilitating listening sessions with key community stakeholders to collect thoughtful feedback on the challenges and opportunities associated with gun violence initiatives in our community. His ability to engage with authenticity and humility while navigating complex and emotionally charged discussions has been critical in helping our committee gain deeper understanding and clarity. Fred's leadership in these conversations has helped elevate community voice and align our strategies with what people on the ground are truly experiencing. Please count this as a strong endorsement of his selection for the Service Above Self award.
~Kevin Fields, Sr.
Here are some of my thoughts about Fred:
- Long-time public servant…elected to the Kentucky House of Representatives, Kentucky Attorney General, and Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge
- Pragmatic leader and a consensus builder
- Fully understands the gun violence issue and the various components which lead to gun violence
- Dedicated through the GVR Subcommittee to finding solutions – both short and long-term
- Very well-connected in the community
- Great to interact with – I learn something new every time I speak with him
- Just an all-around great guy…more than deserving of this award!
~Luke Schmidt
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