Kenneth McCowan was a large, gruff man with a booming voice and theatrical gestures. He had a tough exterior, high expectations, and a penchant for eating anything available, even discarded food. Twinkie wars were legendary. He was possibly the most colorful figure in LCA’s history. New students could be terrified when first meeting him. Once they got to know him, though, they saw his deep faith, compassion, and understanding. He became for many the most beloved and influential teacher in their lives.
Not only a full time Bible and History faculty member from 1968-1987, this gentleman also pastored a church, drove one of the five student bus routes LCA provided for many years, and painted houses with Ray Martin in the summer months. Son David ‘75 learned some valuable lessons watching those men serve their customers. McCowan’s painting methods bore out what he taught his students: “Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God,” so of course you do your best on everything, even painting hard-to-see places.
Alumni testimonies speak best of the deep influence he had on their lives once they got to experience “the real” Ken McCowan.
Jim Bolton ‘72, former Chair of the Board of Trustees, says, “He was my most influential teacher. I had no male influence in my life, and Mr. McCowan took a little extra interest in me and tried to keep me on the straight and narrow. His was the guidance I needed as a teenager. He was strict, but fair and kind. I looked up to him and respected him.”
Brenda Moberger McPherson (79) and Scott Stevens (87) were on his bus route. Initially intimidated by him, both acknowledged that “once you got to know him, you loved this wonderful man.” Scott recalls Ken making up songs as he drove, weaving facts about the students in the bus into his songs.
Speaking on behalf of the alumni at his funeral, Lisa Schuhmacher ’84 outlined the many ways McCowan taught his students that:
“YOU ARE LOVED.
By God, by your family; by your friends, by your teachers; whether you deserve it or not; the importance of where each of us came from; male or female, tall or short, fat or skinny, intelligent or intellectually challenged. His love didn’t discriminate.
He showed examples of this all throughout scriptures in bible class. He showed us in the way he treated each of us. He showed us when we went to him with a problem, a question, or a concern. He showed it when we put him in the position of having to discipline us.
He taught us the importance of putting God first in life…in every area of our life…in our relationship with Him and with our family and friends, in our jobs, in our talents. He taught us that God deserved our very best, our respect, our praise. He didn’t sugar coat what he taught either. You got the facts. You got them bold and blunt.
He taught us that there was grace when mistakes were made, but made sure you also knew, with tough love, that there could be consequences still. But, again, you knew…YOU ARE LOVED.
When I think of LCA, I think almost immediately of Mr. McCowan. The impact he has made on my life has helped to mold me into the woman I am today. When I see him in heaven, I’ll get to thank him and tell him again, that HE was loved.”
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KENNETH A. McCOWAN BIBLE AWARD
Kenneth A. McCowan taught Bible and History at CHS/LCA. He showed students what it means to trust God throughout all of his life. To quote Mr. McCowan, “Whatever God does is right and good; He makes no mistakes.”
This award recognizes the senior with the highest GPA in Bible courses.
