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Ed McGowan, Remodeling Hall of Fame Inductee, Dies at 69
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Edward McGowan, CGR | Edward W. McGowan, CGR, the sole 2003 NAHB Remodeling Hall of Fame inductee and a builder/developer in the greater Binghamton, N.Y. area, died on Dec. 28 at his winter home in North Carolina at age 69.
McGowan was an accomplished businessman who started his own construction and remodeling company in 1959 and later branched out into land development. In the 1980s while building the 94-unit Quinn Estates in Chenango, N.Y., he worked with New York State officials to lower mortgage rates for first-time home buyers. He also invented his own prefabrication process to make homes more affordable to working people.
He was dedicated to his family, his community and his industry and had a long history of service to the home building industry at the local, state and national levels. He also served numerous community groups.
Within the industry, McGowan played an important role in the development of the Remodelors™ Council’s Certified Graduate Remodelor™ (CGR) professional designation program and in the publication of “Quality Standards for the Professional Remodeler.” At NAHB, he was a senior life director, Area II vice president and past chair of the board of trustees of the Remodelors™ Council.
McGowan was awarded the 1986 Distinguished Service Award from the New York State director of housing and was inducted into the New York State Builders Association (NYSBA) Hall of Fame in 2000. In 1989, McGowan was named to the prestigious remodeling “Big 50.” In addition, his company’s work has been featured in The New York Times and numerous industry publications. He was serving as chair of the New York State Builders Association Research and Education Fund at the time of his death.
Within the community, McGowan was involved with his local Boy Scout troop, Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce and other community organizations. In 1993, he was named the Broome County Small Business Person of the Year.
He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Sally McGowan; his son and daughter-in-law, Mike and Nancy McGowan; daughter, Sue Bartlett; and son, Bill McGowan, all of Binghamton; as well as six grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews and two sisters. A third sister died the same day as McGowan, Dec. 28.
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