[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 65 (Monday, April 23, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E830]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN RECOGNITION OF JESS ``POOCH'' BOWLING

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DENNIS A. CARDOZA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 23, 2007

  Mr. CARDOZA. Madam Speaker, it is with the greatest respect and 
sincerity that I rise today to honor the late Mr. Jess Bowling. Known 
to many as ``Pooch,'' he was an endearing friend, a first-class 
sheriff, a well-beloved family man, and a respected member of our 
community in Merced County, California. At the age of 82, Jess Bowling 
passed away on Wednesday, April 18, 2007.
  Jess Bowling was born in Binger, Oklahoma on August 23, 1924. He 
moved to Dos Palos, California at the age of 11 with his father and 
brother, where he attended school and later married Darlene Dorrell in 
1945. He began his career in law enforcement in 1953, working for the 
Dos Palos Police Department. In 1956, he joined the Atwater Police 
Department until finally moving back to Merced in 1958 to work as a 
resident deputy for the Sheriff's Department on the Westside. He rose 
quickly through the ranks of the department and was promoted to 
sergeant-in-command of the new Los Banos sub-station in 1962. Eleven 
years later, Mr. Bowling was appointed undersheriff and in August of 
1974, he was named acting sheriff. That year he was officially elected 
sheriff by the citizens of Merced County.
  As sheriff, Mr. Bowling was instrumental in the development of the 
department, including the creation of the department's corrections 
division and the hiring of its first female deputy. In addition, Mr. 
Bowling oversaw the creation of the county's first 24-hour patrol, 
organized a special narcotics investigation team, began a countywide 
crime prevention program, created the work furlough program for 
prisoners and significantly improved the jail communication system. 
Sadly, due to health reasons, Mr. Bowling retired from the Sheriff's 
Department in 1980. At the time of his death in 2007, Bowling was the 
oldest living Merced County sheriff.
  Mr. Bowling is survived by his daughter Shirley Foley of Los Banos, 
his brother Jack Bowling of Atwater, his three grandchildren Talisha 
Zorra of Los Banos, Aaron Crutcher of Anchorage, Alaska, and Lance 
Crutcher of Merced, and 15 great-grandchildren.
  Madam Speaker, it is my honor and privilege to join the community of 
Dos Palos in recognizing Jess ``Pooch'' Bowling. Our community benefits 
greatly from the example he set throughout his lifetime of service as a 
sheriff who dedicated his life to his community and his family.

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