Hugh P. Cowdin

Dr. Hugh P. Cowdin passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 18th. Born on December 1, 1930 to parents Caroline Owen Cowdin and Charles Thomas Cowdin of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he was the second of four children, including Charles T. Cowdin, Jr., Caroline Pomponio, and Timothy Cowdin. All are now deceased.

 Hugh was preceded in death by his first wife of 50 years, Juliette L. Cowdin, of Chicago, Illinois. He is survived by his five children, including daughter Juliette M. Cowdin, son Hugh P. Cowdin Jr. and Jodys A. Cowdin, daughter Colleen M. Bianchi (widow of Ronald Bianchi), son Daniel M. Cowdin and Deborah Cowdin, and son Peter T. Cowdin and Deborah Pettid. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren and 1 great grandson. 

 In 2007, Hugh married Catherine E. Rokes of Omaha, Nebraska (widow of Willis Rokes). He is survived by Catherine and her three children, including son John Rokes and Tracy Rokes, son Mark Rokes, and son Adam Rokes and Janice Koukol, as well as 5 grandchildren. 

 After receiving a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Marquette University in 1953, Hugh was drafted into the Army and served for two years during and after the Korean War. He spent the first ten years of his professional career as a Journalism instructor at Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Indiana. During this time Hugh received a Master’s Degree from Marquette University. In 1966, he took a position on the Journalism faculty at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 

 After receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa, Hugh was hired in 1968 by the University of Nebraska at Omaha to serve as Chairman of the Journalism Department. During his 27 years at UNO, his leadership and vision were responsible for unprecedented academic growth. In 1975, he engineered the merger of the departments of Journalism and Speech into the new Department of Communication, over which he presided as Chairman for most of the next 20 years. Also during his tenure, Hugh laid the foundation for the Department to become the new School of Communication. Hugh retired in 1995. 

 After retirement, Hugh was deeply involved with the Omaha Press Club, serving as a committee chair as well as a member of its Board of Directors, and culminating in his induction into the Omaha Press Club Hall of Fame.

Mass of Christian Burial Saturday, January 25, 2025 at 10:00am at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church 1920 N. 102nd St. Omaha. Visitation Friday 4-6pm, with a Wake Service at 6pm at John A. Gentleman Mortuaries 72nd Street Chapel.  Fellowship will follow the Wake at Cunningham's Pub and Grill Blackstone 3814 Farnam St. Omaha 7:30-10:30pm.

 In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hugh P. and Juliette L. Cowdin Communications Scholarship through the University of Nebraska Foundation.