[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 94 (Tuesday, May 19, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E463-E464]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





              HONORING THE MEMORY OF WILLIAM P. BOWES, Sr.

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. SYLVIA R. GARCIA

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 19, 2020

  Ms. GARCIA of Texas. Madam Speaker, I wish to take this opportunity 
to mark the passing of a former constituent, William P. (``Bill'') 
Bowes, Sr., who dedicated much of his life to bettering his community 
and future generations in the North Shore/North Channel area of 
Houston, TX. Bill resided in his later years in Mont Belvieu, TX--but 
his contributions to the North Shore/North Channel area, where he spent 
much of his life, were truly inspiring. I want to take a moment to 
remember his extraordinary record of community service, even as we 
mourn his passing on March 28.
  Bill was a proud graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in 
Kings Point, NY. He may have been born in Des Moines, IA--but, as we 
say in Texas--he became a Texan as quickly as possible. Along with his 
beloved wife, Barbara, Bill moved to Houston in the late 1960s to work 
for a cargo surveying business, which grew with the growth of the Port 
of Houston. He raised a family and dedicated what extra time he had to 
serving his community. Bill's obituary, which follows, explains the 
impact he had on his community--my constituency. That impact was, in a 
word, extraordinary.
  Few people have had a more positive effect on the North Shore/North 
Channel area than Bill Bowes. His work with the North Shore Rotary 
Club, of which he served as president at the age of 81 years young, 
benefited a multitude of local, national and international charitable 
organizations. For decades, working with two Members of Congress, Bill 
helped select the most deserving young men and women in the Houston 
area for nomination to the nation's service academies, including his 
beloved U.S. Merchant Marine Academy--helping them obtain an 
outstanding education while serving and protecting our country. In his 
later years, after moving to Mont Belvieu, he served on that town's 
Planning and Zoning Commission.
  All of that is encapsulated in the obituary that follows. One 
characteristic of Bill's that his obituary doesn't fully convey is his 
modesty. If you met Bill once, you were an instant friend--and you were 
a friend forever. But, if you met him just once, you'd never know the 
depth of his compassion; you'd never know how much time he devoted to 
his community; and you'd never know just how much he loved his family. 
That was because of his modesty and humility. But ask anyone else, 
anyone who knew him, and they would tell you how much he'd done for 
others and how enormously proud he was of his family. Not all lions 
feel the need to roar.
  Madam Speaker, today, we ask ourselves how, and if, our nation will 
overcome the daunting challenges we face. We have no doubt, most of us, 
that we will persevere and overcome--building a better life for future 
generations. But we ask who will give us the leadership and inspiration 
going forward. I suggest that the example of Bill Bowes shows us that 
each one of us--and all of us, together--can work to overcome the 
challenges that confront us. Bill's example shows us that one 
individual, with an unwavering commitment to helping others, can 
improve a community and make life better today and for generations to 
come.
  To Bill's family, most especially his loving children, Bill Jr., 
Suzie and Tom, and their spouses and their children--to Bill's many 
friends throughout the Houston area--to those who benefited from his 
charitable activities and community service wherever they may be--let 
me offer my heartfelt sympathy on your loss. While we mourn his 
passing, we know that what he did when he was with us made a difference 
for the better in the lives of countless others. And that provides us 
with some measure of comfort.
  With that, Madam Speaker, I include in the Record this moving and 
eloquent profile of William P. Bowes, Sr.

              [From the Houston Chronicle, April 12, 2020]

       William P. (``Bill'') Bowes, Sr. passed away on March 28th 
     at the age of 82 years after an unexpected, but heroic, 
     hospital-bound, 3-week fight for his life.
       From the beginning of his life in Des Moines, Iowa to his 
     premature end, Bill was known for his work ethic, integrity, 
     ability to make friends, ability to lead and undying 
     commitment to the mottos of his life--``service over self' 
     and Acta Non Verba (``actions, not words''). An ``army brat'' 
     son of one of General MacArthur's commanders, Bill moved 
     frequently in his youth. Despite these moves, he was always 
     able to make fast friends with his new classmates, as 
     evidenced by his election as high school Class President in 
     the final of 3 high schools he attended.
       After high school, Bill earned a Congressional appointment 
     to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point), where he 
     spent his junior year touring the world by sea and graduated 
     with a Bachelor of Science degree, a U.S. Coast Guard license 
     as Third Mate, and a Naval Reserve commission as Ensign. A 
     chance weekend invitation for a home-cooked meal from one of 
     Bill's classmates resulted in Bill meeting that classmate's 
     sister and Bill's future wife, Barbara, who became the love 
     of his life. Bill liked to joke that he ended up paying for 
     that ``free meal'' from his future in-laws the rest of his 
     life. Bill and Barbara were married in the chapel at Kings 
     Point. His hard work, financial support and charitable 
     efforts on behalf of Kings Point earned Bill many accolades 
     and awards, including the Alumni Association's Distinguished 
     Service Award, Outstanding Personal Achievement Award and the 
     Daniel E. Meehan Humanitarian Service Award, as well as 
     having a classroom named in his and a classmate friend's 
     honor.
       Soon after his arrival in Houston in the late '60s, Bill 
     left an indelible mark on the North Shore community through 
     his leadership of and fundraising for the North Shore YMCA, 
     his role as President of the North Shore Civic Association, 
     his involvement with the North Channel Chamber of Commerce & 
     Elks Club and, most notably, his involvement with the North 
     Shore Rotary Club, whose members he viewed as his brothers 
     and sisters.
       Bill put his Kings Point experience and education to work 
     as a ship and cargo surveyor--first in Manhattan and 
     ultimately in Houston. In normal fashion, Bill earned the 
     trust and admiration of the owner of the company that brought 
     Bill to Texas and who eventually sold the company to Bill, 
     Capt. Ira S. Derrick. Bill grew the company to have satellite 
     offices in Fort Lauderdale, New Orleans and Chicago. Hundreds 
     of millions of dollars of ship and rail borne cargo was 
     inspected by Bill's company. Bill's professional reputation 
     earned him many unique opportunities, including overseeing 
     the packing for transport of a multi-million-dollar suit of 
     ancient armor that was on display at Neiman Marcus, but the 
     most cherished part of Bill's career was being mentor and a 
     second father and friend to many of his employees over the 
     years.
       Bill had a more active charitable and social calendar than 
     most people half his age. Literally until the day he was 
     hospitalized, he remained active in his community, including 
     with the North Shore Rotary Club, serving as the club's 
     President last year at 81, a marshal at Eagle Pointe Golf 
     Course, a board member on North Channel Water District, a 
     member of the Scottish Rite (32 deg. Master Mason), a board 
     member on Mont Belvieu's Planning and Zoning Commission and a 
     board member of the Kings Point Alumni Association. Bill's 
     almost 42 years of Rotarian work earned him many honors, 
     including that of ``Major Donor'' with Rotary International. 
     He frequently traveled to Mexico to work with his sister 
     Rotary Club there. He also loved to host that Club's members 
     at his home when they came to Texas. Bill was most proud 
     of his efforts to help grow a faith-based clergy 
     certification program in prisons, which resulted in a 
     material decrease in prison violence and recidivism rates. 
     Bill was also an inactive Lieutenant in the Navy Reserves.
       Bill's greatest joy was family and friends. Bill's 
     strongest advocate and most sarcastic life partner was his 
     wife of over 43 years, Barbara. Bill was Barbara's biggest 
     supporter as she pursued her law enforcement license, real 
     estate license and an almost 20-year career working for 
     Houston area Congressmen (Jack Fields and Gene Green). Bill 
     participated in that Congressional relationship by serving 
     many years as Chair of Congressman Field's Service Academy 
     Nomination Board, responsible for recommending young men and 
     women for limited appointments to the various U.S. military 
     and maritime academies, including Kings Point. After a 5-year 
     battle against Stage 4 melanoma--a diagnosis that had given 
     her just 2 months to live--Bill said goodbye to the love of 
     his life. His life was never the same after Barbara's death, 
     but he never let the depth of his despair impact his 
     continued contributions to his community or their family.
       After Barbara's death, Bill--aka Papa and Dad--continued to 
     be a mainstay at family functions, whether holidays, 
     birthdays, family trips to his ranch or spontaneous family 
     dinners, and he rarely missed his grandkids' many activities. 
     He also loved to travel the world to see family and friends.

[[Page E464]]

       In the last few years, one of Bill's favorite family 
     activities was spending time at his ranch in Central Texas, 
     where he was irremovable from his mower and tractor when he 
     wasn't deer, hog and turkey watching or playing card games, 
     dominoes and corn-hole with his family and friends.
       In addition to Barbara, Bill was preceded in death by his 
     parents, Judge John G. and Margaret Bowes; his brothers, 
     Jimmy, John and Harry; his niece Anne Bowes; his nephew Doug 
     Williamsen; and numerous other beloved family members and 
     friends.
       Bill is survived by a lifetime of friends too numerous to 
     recount; citizens of the east Harris County and Chambers 
     County communities who have benefited from his love, devotion 
     and charity for over 50 years; dear family friends and 
     travelling companions, Bryan Wirwicz and Diane Tom; his 
     thoughtful, loving neighbors; and, most cherished of all, his 
     family:
       Children: William P. (``Bill'') Bowes, Jr. and daughter in 
     law Trisha; Suzie Wilburn and son in law Mark (``Bo''); Tom 
     Bowes and daughter in law Monica; and daughter in law Debra 
     Bowes.
       His beloved grandkids: Kelsey; Will; Haley; Bryan; Caitlyn; 
     Ross; Mackenzie; and Kathleen.
       Brothers and Sisters in Law: Barbara Bishop and husband Ed; 
     Charles (``Chuck'') and Paula Williamsen; Dana Bowes; and 
     Carolyn Van Doren.
       Nieces and Nephews: Dennis Harper and wife Shelly; John and 
     wife Gina; Lisa Young and husband Steve; Bob and wife Debbie; 
     Jim and wife Karen; Kristy Rigot and husband Jeff; Margaret 
     and husband Richard; and each of their children.
       Cousins: Marti; and Bob and wife Linda and their children.
       Bill is gone, but he will live on in the hearts and 
     memories of those he touched during a life well lived.
       A celebration of Bill's life will be held at a later date. 
     Friends of Bill wishing to make a memorial contribution in 
     Bill's name are asked to consider either: USMMA Alumni Assoc. 
     & Foundation (Class of 1962 Fund for Midshipman Professional 
     & Leadership Development), 300 Steamboat Road, Kings Point, 
     NY 11024 or North Shore Rotary Club, PO Box 9635, Houston, TX 
     77213 (In Memory of Bill Bowes).

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