William “Mo” Cowan—

For the first time ever, two African Americans are both set to serve in the United States Senate.  Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has taken the historic step of appointing a black man to the Senate Seat that has been vacated by John Kerry, who is now set to become Secretary of State.

William “Mo” Cowan is now taking the lead and heading to Washington to join up with Sen. Tim Scott as the only two black men to fill these hallowed chambers.

Cowan was the former Chief of Staff for Patrick and his legal counsel.   He worked for the governor from January 2011 till November 2012 and then returned to practice law in the private sector.   This is the first time that Massachusetts has had an African American in the Senate since Edward Brooke held the post as a Republican from 1966 to 1978.

Cowan is going to be the eighth African American in history to serve as a United States Senator.  He was born in Yadkinville, North Carolina and is the son of a machinist and seamstress.  His father died when he was just 16-years old.   He was the first graduate of his high school to attend Duke University and decided to become an attorney after abandoning plans to become a doctor.

He graduated from Northwestern University Law School in 1994.