John FLAHERTY

Background

COWLES, John was born on May 27, 1929 in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. Son of the late John Cowles and of Elizabeth Bates.

Education

College of the Holy Cross (Bachelor of Arts, 1950). Boston College (Bachelor of Laws, 1953). Alpha Sigma Nu. Regional Vice President, 19651966 and President, 1966-1967, Commercial Law League of America.

Member, 1965— and Chairman, 1974-1976, Maine Municipal Securities Finance and Approval Board, since 1965. Member of Board, Maine Guarantee Authority, 1974-1978. Member, Maine Civil Rules Advisory Committee, since 1976.

Career

With, Cowles Media Company (formerly Minneapolis Star and Tribune Company), 1953-1983; vice president, Cowles Media Company (formerly Minneapolis Star and Tribune Company), 1957-1968; editor, Cowles Media Company (formerly Minneapolis Star and Tribune Company), 1961-1969; president, Cowles Media Company (formerly Minneapolis Star and Tribune Company), 1968-1973, 79-83; editorial chairman, Cowles Media Company (formerly Minneapolis Star and Tribune Company), 1969-1973; chairman, Cowles Media Company (formerly Minneapolis Star and Tribune Company), 1973-1979; director, Cowles Media Company (formerly Minneapolis Star and Tribune Company), 1956-1984; president, Harper's Magazine, Inc., 1965-1968; Chairman of the Board, Harper's Magazine, Inc., 1968-1972; director, Harper & Row, Publications, Inc., New York City, 1965-1981; chairman, Harper & Row, Publications, Inc., 1968-1979. Director Des Moines Register & Tribune Company, 1960-1984, Farmers & Mechanics Savings Bank, Minneapolis, 1960-1965, Cowles Communications, Inc., New York City, 1960-1965, Equitable Life Insurance Company Iowa, Des Moines, 1964-1966, 1st Bank Systems, Inc., Minneapolis, 1964-1968, A.P., New York City, 1966-1975, Midwest Radio-television, Inc., Minneapolis, 1967-1976. Fitness instructor Sweatshop Fitness Center, St. Paul, 1989-1993.

Guest artist Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane & Company, 1990-1992. Vice chairman Women's Professional Fastpitch, Limited liability company, Denver, since 1994.

Achievements

• In a 2006 essay written at the University of Minnesota Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, Cowles wrote, "The nonprofit sector must reform itself, most notably by initiating some minimum federal standards of behavior and by limiting the lifespan of private foundations to 25 or 30 years so that emphasis is on accomplishment, not process and perpetuation." In 1965, Cowles acquired half-interest in Harper's magazine which during his fifteen-year tenure lost readers and nearly US$2 million.

Membership

Member advisory board on Pulitzer Prizes, Columbia University, 1970-1983. Campaign chairman Minneapolis United Fund, 1967. Board directors Guthrie Theatre Foundation, 1960-1971, president, 1960-1963, chairman, 1964-1965, architect selection committee, 2000-2001, endowment campaign steering committee, 1987-1991.

Trustee Phillips Exeter Academy, 1960-1965. Board directors Walker Art Center, 1960-1969, 87-92, Minnesota Civil Liberties Union, 1956-1961, Urban Coalition Minneapolis, 1968-1970, Minneapolis Foundation, 1970-1975, German Marshall Fund United States, 1975-1978. Board directors American Newspaper Publications Association, 1975-1977.

Member government affairs committee, 1976-1979. Member Woodhill Country Club, 1954-1984, Century Association, 1967-1992, Council on Foreign Relations, 1969-1992, Minnesota Business Partnership, 1977-1983, Minnesota Project Corporation Responsibility, 1977-1983, Trilateral Commission, 1978-1982. Served to Second lieutenant United States Army, 1951-1953.

Member Greater Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce (director 1978-1981, chairman stadium site task force 1977-1982), Minneapolis Club, Mill Reef Club (Antigua), A.D. Club at Harvard, Signet Association at Harvard (president 1950-1951).

Connections

Married Jane Sage Fuller, August 23, 1952. Children: Tessa Sage Flores, John, Jane Sage, Charles Fuller.

Father:

John Cowles,

Mother:

Elizabeth (Bates) Cowles,

Spouse:

Jane Sage Fuller

child:

Tessa Sage Flores Cowles,

child:

Charles Fuller Cowles,

child:

Jane Sage Cowles,

child:

John Cowles,