The "Mac" I Knew Others saw the sun with their eyes, He felt the warmth upon his face. Others saw the rain ruining their picnic, He heard God giving his garden a drink. Others judged a person by their appearance and said I don't like them. He heard their failures, their needs, their wants and gave them a chance. Others saw an obstacle and said we can't, He saw an obstacle and said together we can. Debbie Bohannon Charles McDowell's secretary for 8 1/2 years

Charles W. McDowell 1937-1992

When the 1976 Kentucky legislature enacted

a specialized state rehabilitation agency for

individuals who are blind, Governor Julian Carroll

looked to Charles McDowell to be its first executive

director. At age 39, the Western Kentucky native had

already made a name for himself.

A graduate of Murray State University, McDowell

held a master's degree in special education for the

visually impaired from Peabody College. He had earned

a reputation as an outstanding teacher at both Providence

and Webster County high schools, and Madisonville

College. The Kentucky Junior Chamber of Commerce

named him Kentucky's Outstanding Young Educator in

1970, and Webster County awarded him Teacher of the

Year in 1971. When the call came from Governor Carroll,

McDowell had already been the mayor of Providence,

the largest city in Webster County, for two years.

History will probably record that his greatest

achievement for the agency was the development of

technological advances and computer adaptations for

people with visual disabilities. The Department has an

international reputation in this field and was one of only

10 states to win a major grant award under the federal

Technology Related Assistance for Individuals with

Disabilities Act of 1988. These new technologies continue to

change the way men and women with visual disabilities

live and work.

It was also during his tenure that the agency

would grow from a division of the Department of

Education with a $2.8 million budget to become the

Department for the Blind in 1990 -- an agency of the Workforce

Development Cabinet with three divisions of its own and

a $9.3 million budget.

The qualities that McDowell brought to Frankfort

proved to be the hallmark of his success personally

and professionally. A man of fundamental values, he

was friendly with everyone and demonstrated remarkable

faith in each person's capacity to accomplish great

things. As his chief assistant, Sam Serraglio, said of him,

"He was the type of person that listened to you, talked

with you about your ideas and allowed you to develop."

He most enjoyed the simple things of life, with

hobbies including gardening, yard work and camping.

His favorite readings were novels about the Old West.

He was a Christian and active in his Church. What

mattered most to Charles McDowell was his family: his

wife Lucy Riddle McDowell, a RN and professor of

nursing at Midway College, and two boys, Charles

Patrick and Daniel Ryan. He always took an opportunity

to tell others about "Lucy and the boys."

It is fitting that the Charles W. McDowell Center

in Louisville bears his name. It was his dream and he

worked hard with successive governors and legislatures

to obtain funds for its construction. He said he wanted

it to be a monument to all Kentuckians with visual

disabilities -- a center where the services provided

would improve opportunities for living independently

and obtaining employment.

Charles McDowell died suddenly of a cerebral

hemorrhage on March 24, 1992, just two years and eight

months before its dedication. His accomplishments now

stand as monument for the ages.

Ed Rademaker
Former Director of Division of Client Services

OFFICES AND ORGANIZATIONS

Past President, Elkhorn Middle School PTO

Past President, Providence Teachers' Association

Past President, Webster County Teachers' Association

Past President, Providence Jaycees

Past President, Second District Education Association

Served on Board of Directors, SDEA

Webster County Chairman, March of Dimes

Past Webster County Chairman, Heart Fund

Board of Directors, Providence Chamber of Commerce

Board of Directors of Webster County Association for Retarded Children

Board of Directors of Computer Service for the Blind, State of Kentucky

Second District Education Association, KEA, NEA

UK Curriculum Review Committee

Bureau for Exceptional Children Task Force, Frankfort

National Council of State Agencies for the Blind
(Past Member, Board of Directors)

Council of State Agencies of Vocational Rehabilitation

Association of Educators and Rehabilitation Workers
for the Blind and Visually Impaired

National Rehabilitation Association

Advisory Board, Arkansas Industries for the Blind

Executive Committee, Kentucky Supported Employment / ProjectACCESS

Kentucky Developmentally Disabled Council

President, Franklin County Chapter, Murray State Alumni

Director, Men's Ministry, First Assembly Church, Frankfort

Past Member & Board of Directors, Special Olympics

National Social Security Administration Task Force

HONORS AND AWARDS

Who's Who in American College and Universities, 1961

1970 Kentucky Jaycees as Outstanding Young Educator

1970-71 Teacher of the Year, Webster County High School

Outstanding Young Man, Murray State University, 1962

Murray State University Student Government (3 years)

ATO Social Fraternity, Murray State University

Assisted in development and writing of Ralph H. Woods
Memorial Scholarship for the Physically Handicapped, Murray State University

Board of Directors of Alumni Affairs, Murray State

Providence City Council, 1972-1974

Mayor of Providence, 1974-1976

Guest Speaker for Layman's Sunday at various churches

Kentucky Colonel

13th edition of Who's Who in American Education in the Southeastern U.S.

Commencement Speaker for Murray State University, 1974

Listed in The National Distinguished Service Registry:
Medical and Vocational Rehabilitation