John Rowland

Mother Earth lost one of her most devoted sons. John Wilson Rowland of Comfort, Texas was born August 10, 1955 and died on February 24, 2010 at his home. He was the eldest son of the Reverend Wilson and Joy Giles Rowland. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas in Austin with a BA in Philosophy, studied Hebrew at the University of Tel Aviv and received his law degree from St. Marys University in 1983. John started his career at the D.A.s office and later went into private practice and obtained his board certification in death penalty appeals. He campaigned passionately for the rights of death row inmates. Johns passions included a love of history, a quest for knowledge, a desire for travel, a deep and tender love of animals and abiding love of music, which included singing, writing songs, and playing guitar. Heloved the outdoors and his garden. John enjoyed sharing his love of plants and flowers and many are those who received transplants from Johns porch. Serving people and continually offering to help marked Johns character. Johns wisdom and deep spiritual faith blanketed all those around him. John never forgot those in need and some of his favorite charities included the San Antonio Food Bank, Toys for Tots and the Arbor Society. John held himself to a very high standard, and respected those around him enough to expect the same in return although he understood a persons limits, allowing an unconditional love regardless. As a child, John spent most Sundays with his minister father traveling through the counties that he would later find himself trying cases in some of his great grandfathers courthouses. His love of politics and a desire for debate resulted in many a discussion. John believed that all are created equal having grown up hearing his father recite the Reverend Martin Luther King Jrs beautiful words, and his vision of a peaceful world was his lifes work. John was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Mark Giles Rowland. He is survived by his sisters Mariel and Elizabeth Joy, by his niece Lilia Yang Rowland, and by numerous family members. He is also survived by his dear friend Jolleen Lewis and Richard Steinfeldt and he benefited greatly with help from the Banda family and neighbors. A memorial service will be held March 6, 2010 at 1 p.m. at Hillingdon Ranch in Comfort, Texas. A site to post comments and a map is available at www.hilranch.com.

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