A JOINT RESOLUTION honoring the life and memory of jimmy reese lowry, public servant.
Whereas, Jimmy Reese Lowry was born on December 16, 1944, in Robeson County to Harvey and Myrtle Lowry; and
Whereas, Jimmy Reese Lowry graduated from North Carolina State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree with honors in Aeronautical Engineering; and
Whereas, from 1966 to 1969, Jimmy Reese Lowry worked as an aircraft research engineer for Lockheed Aircraft Corporation in Marietta, Georgia, before joining General Electric, where he became the company's District Sales Manager for both North Carolina and South Carolina; and
Whereas, in 1977, Jimmy Reese Lowry began what would become a successful career in the automobile industry, serving as dealer and owner of Lowry Chevrolet, Inc., in Tryon, North Carolina, from 1977 to 1987; Vice‑President and General Manager of Lyles Companies in High Point, North Carolina, from 1987 to 1992; owner and President of Lowry Buick‑Oldsmobile‑Pontiac‑Chevrolet‑Geo, Inc., in Thomasville, North Carolina, from 1992 to 1998; and as President of High Point Chevrolet Jeep, LLC from 1998 to 2002; and
Whereas, Jimmy Reese Lowry also spent a number of years as an automobile consultant and served as a member of General Motors Minority Dealer Advisory Council; and
Whereas, Jimmy Reese Lowry was a proud member of the Lumbee Tribe, and his dedicated service as chair of the Lumbee Self‑Determination Commission helped to enrich the lives of the members of the Tribe; and
Whereas, Jimmy Reese Lowry rendered distinguished service to the State of North Carolina, serving as the chair of the North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs from 1977 to 1984 and as the State Purchasing Officer during the administration of Governor James B. Hunt from 1982 to 1983; and
Whereas, in 2001, Jimmy Reese Lowry was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Charlotte Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and was elected as chair of the Board in 2006; and
Whereas, Jimmy Reese Lowry also served as a member of the North Carolina State University Board of Visitors and the Wachovia Bank and Trust Advisory Board; and
Whereas, Jimmy Reese Lowry received numerous recognitions for his good deeds, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the North Carolina Automobile Dealers Association, Distinguished Service Award from the Lumbee Regional Development Association, The Order of the Long Leaf Pine from Governor James B. Hunt in 1981, and The Order of the Old North State from Governor Beverly Eaves Perdue in 2010; and
Whereas, Jimmy Reese Lowry was a man of great faith and regularly attended the Covenant United Methodist Church and the Tryon United Methodist Church; and
Whereas, Jimmy Reese Lowry died on June 13, 2010, at the age of 65; and
Whereas, Jimmy Reese Lowry is survived by his wife of over 45 years, Phyllis Ann Locklear Lowry; a daughter, Jayme Lowry Burmeister; a son, Chad Lowry; a granddaughter, Reece MaryAnn Burmeister; and two brothers, Robby Lowry and Harvey Lowry, Jr.; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
SECTION 1.  The General Assembly honors the memory of Jimmy Reese Lowry and expresses the appreciation of this State and its citizens for the service he rendered his community, State, and nation.
SECTION 2.  The General Assembly extends its deepest sympathy to the family of Jimmy Reese Lowry for the loss of a beloved family member.
SECTION 3.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the family of Jimmy Reese Lowry.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.