[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 5, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E213]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING TAMPA BAY'S TRAILBLAZER WALLACE Z. BOWERS, IN HONOR OF 
                          BLACK HISTORY MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. KATHY CASTOR

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 5, 2024

  Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and 
celebrate the remarkable contributions and achievements of a 
distinguished individual of the Tampa Bay community, Mr. Wallace Z. 
Bowers. Supported by his wife, Lois Bowers, and son, Warren Lyle 
Bowers, his lifelong dedication to community service, advocacy, and 
leadership embodies the spirit of stewardship we all must strive 
towards.
  Mr. Bowers grew up in Bascom, FL, the 11th of 13 children. In 
describing his upbringing, Mr. Bowers considered himself a ``country 
boy,'' and often recalls the lessons of hard work and ``making a 
difference'' which his parents instilled in him and his siblings. This 
foundation inspired a call to service in the U.S. Army and later, his 
decades of community service within the Tampa Bay community. After 
returning from military service, Mr. Bowers moved to Tampa, Florida, 
eventually settling in a little community called Progress Village. He 
went on to study at the University of Tampa, Tampa Bible College and 
Florida Theological Seminary & Bible College.
  Mr. Bowers was an early member of the Progress Village Civic Council, 
a Tampa-based community organization which played a pivotal role in 
offsetting the displacement of African Americans during the Civil 
Rights era. He also co-founded and served as President from 1986 until 
1996 of the Progress Village Foundation which provides scholarships to 
local students. Mr. Bowers also played a pivotal role in rezoning 
negotiations with the Hillsborough County Commission, resulting in 
significant benefits for the community, including the revitalization of 
the Progress Village Park, and various other improvements.
  Mr. Bowers' commitment to public service is also exemplified by his 
Gubernatorial appointment to the Florida Housing Authority from 1983 to 
1989, where he served as Chair during the later years of his tenure. 
Additionally, his dedication to transportation and community 
development is reflected in his roles as a county appointee to the 
Hillsborough County Regional Transit Authority (HART) and as a past 
member of the Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization 
(MPO) Board and Tampa Streetcar Board.
  Throughout his life Mr. Bowers has invested in the communities and 
people of Tampa. And often recalling his parents' teachings of hard 
work and making a difference, Mr. Bowers was always aware of his higher 
calling as a spiritual leader. He was the Vice Moderator of the Mount 
Pilgrim Association for six years and is currently a member of the 
Progressive M & E Baptist State Convention of Florida and National 
Baptist Convention of America International, Inc. As a licensed and 
ordained minister, he led and pastored the Saint Mary Missionary 
Baptist Church from 1996 to 2018 being given the honorary title of 
Pastor Emeritus.
  In 1970, Mr. Bowers founded his own real estate business and has been 
practicing for over five decades. His entrepreneurial spirit also led 
him to own and operate Bowers Barber Shop. Mr. Bowers served as the 
Property Manager for the Progress Village Shopping Center and 
Progressive M & E Baptist State Convention Headquarters, always working 
hard and always making a difference.
  Mr. Bowers has stated that for any community to progress and move 
forward we all must take an interest in improving the welfare of our 
fellow citizens. Not only has he led by that example for decades, but 
he has helped establish a foundation in the community that would ensure 
future generations, regardless of where they were from or the 
challenges they face so that they have the appropriate educational, 
economic, and social opportunities needed to achieve success.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize Mr. Wallace Z. Bowers, whose 
work is engraved in the streets of our Tampa community. His legacy of 
service, leadership, and hard work serve as an inspiration to future 
generations.

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