As a strong supporter of the Pasadena community and the Pasadena Independent School District, it came as no surprise when the district’s Education Foundation named Mel Cowart as the 2007 Community Shining Star at the foundation’s fourth annual Shining Stars Gala in May.

Cowart is the second recipient of the Pasadena ISD Education Foundation/Dell Shining Stars Gala’s Community Shining Star award, with the first given to Ben Meador at last year’s gala. The gala honors the top 10 seniors from the district’s five high schools, along with the educators who have inspired them the most. This year, 51 students were honored as a result of a tie, and each student received a laptop and case from Dell.

“Mel was chosen as this year’s Community Shining Star because of his service to our community and in particular the Education Foundation,” said the foundation’s executive director Cindy Parmer. “His generosity and kind spirit are infectious. He serves as an example to all individuals who want to make a difference in the lives of students.”

Although Cowart said he feels euphoric for being honored as this year’s Community Shining Star, he said he is most happy for the students and their own “shining stars.”

“I feel really great about the gala,” Cowart said. “Everyone needs recognition and to raise their expectations. I think this is a wonderful opportunity for these individuals, and it wouldn’t be possible without the help of everyone involved.”

Upon winning a net amount of about $13 million in the Texas Lottery on April 1, 1991, Cowart said many doors opened for him and his late wife Mary. But winning the lottery didn’t just open doors for the Cowarts. It opened many doors of opportunity for Pasadena ISD students and employees as well, as the Cowarts decided they wanted to use their winnings to give back to their community and local schools.

The Cowarts made their largest contribution to the district in 2003 when they helped lay the groundwork for the foundation as its platinum founding donors, giving a generous $25,000 to start the foundation under the direction of Pasadena ISD.

The Cowarts’ donation, along with the donations of many other businesses, companies and individuals, contributed to the foundation’s goal of raising $210,000, which allowed the foundation to award more than $20,000 in mini-grants to teachers and staff districtwide in its original year. Over the past four years, the foundation has made dreams come true for teachers and students districtwide through more than $390,000 in mini-grants, which are used for a variety of instructional needs and innovative programs.

Cowart said the mini-grant program is what inspired him to become a founding donor for the foundation.

“Mary and I wanted to increase the foundation’s present goals to involve more people so they would own the system,” Cowart said. “We wanted the teachers to know they had a world of possibilities available to them to be creative, and we wanted to encourage the students with a variety of opportunities that provide hands-on participation.”

Cowart continues to be an active foundation board member, an annual table sponsor at the gala and is an enthusiastic participant in the foundation’s bi-annual Dream Makers event in which the mini-grants are awarded districtwide to teachers.

While this year’s gala brought in more than 35 table sponsors, Cowart said he still encourages for more local businesses to participate in the event.

“The gala is an excellent way for local businesses and community members to be a part of the system,” he said. “They are able to see instant results with their donation, and it’s a great feeling.”

As an established and respected business man in the community managing an independent law firm for 32 years and operating MEC Properties and Cowart Rental Properties for more than 35 years, Cowart enjoys giving back to the community that has given him so much.

“Mel is admired by business and community leaders because he truly believes he has been blessed by the community and he backs that up by his generosity, both monetary and service related,” said the foundation’s past-president Terry Brotherton.

Serving on the board of directors for the Kiwanis Club of Pasadena and investing more than $500,000 in Kiwanis International, Cowart and his wife funded a worldwide matching fund program to eradicate iodine deficiency. The Cowarts received several honors from Kiwanis International including Life Member, Table of Honor, Founder Circle Award, Heritage Society member, C.T. Bush Award and the Pathway to the Future Construction at International Headquarters in Indianapolis was named in their honor. Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to helping children and communities through various service projects.

The Children’s Miracle Network at Hermann Children’s Hospital and the Salvation Army have also benefited greatly from the Cowarts’ ongoing generosity. In 2004, the Children’s Miracle Network recognized the Cowarts as their Most Dedicated Individual Donors, and the Mel and Mary Cowart Sports Pavilion was built at the Salvation Army on Cherrybrook in their honor in 2006. The couple has also made frequent and significant donations to many other local charities.

In addition to the boards of the Kiwanis Club of Pasadena and the Education Foundation, Cowart also presently serves on the Board of Trustees of Texas-Oklahoma Kiwanis Foundation, Advisory Council Board of the Salvation Army of East Harris County and is the director of the Family Promise of East Harris County.

Cowart received his bachelor’s degree from Sam Houston State University in 1948 and received a law degree from South Texas College of Law in 1952. His son Steve Cowart also resides in the Houston area.

“Mel serves for all the right reasons,” said Brotherton. “He really cares about the students and teachers, plus he serves in a humble, low-key manner, giving sincere credit to his late wife, Mary. Mel gives from his heart and is not one who seeks the limelight. He always has a smile on his face with a sharp, keen and witty sense of humor. Mel is a true delight to be around, and he is truly an asset to the foundation, district and community.”