[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 1, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E82-E83]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF MRS. BONNIE BELL McGOWAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. RICHARD HUDSON

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 1, 2023

  Mr. HUDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of 
Mrs. Bonnie Bell McGowan. A beloved member of our community, Mrs. 
McGowan's life was marked by her love for golf and her unwavering 
commitment to helping others achieve success through the game.
  Shortly before she was born, Mrs. McGowan's parents began managing 
and operating Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club. With their home 
situated on Pine Needles' 18th hole, Mrs. McGowan was heavily exposed 
to golf in her youth and quickly developed a love for the game. She 
went on to play at Pinecrest High School, Rollins College, and the 
University of North Carolina. While travelling with her husband, Pat 
McGowan, on the PGA tour, she became the president of the PGA Tour 
Wives Association in the mid-1980s. She later returned home to Pine 
Needles where she helped carry on her parents' business and worked as a 
golf instructor. She established her own legacy by becoming the face of 
Pine Needles and was well known for her thorough and dedicated 
coaching. In 2016, she became an assistant coach for the Sandhills 
Community College women's golf team. As proof of her love for the game 
and true desire to help all succeed on the course, she did not accept 
pay for her efforts and instead volunteered her time coaching the 
college team for 6 years. Mrs. McGowan was

[[Page E83]]

also active with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). She led 
The O'Neal School's FCA chapter for 10 years and supported the FCA Golf 
Ministry's initiatives in the golf industry.
  Sadly, Mrs. McGowan passed away on January 12, 2023, due to 
complications associated with pancreatic cancer. My thoughts and 
prayers are with her family and all who knew and loved her. Mrs. 
McGowan's love for golf and commitment to teaching, supporting, and 
helping others represents the very best of our community. She leaves 
behind a remarkable legacy, and I join our entire community in 
gratitude as we honor her extraordinary life.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me today in honoring the life and legacy of 
Mrs. Bonnie Bell McGowan.

                          ____________________