[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18364]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            IN HONOR OF JIM BOWMAN, UNITED STATES AIR FORCE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDWARD R. ROYCE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 10, 2007

  Mr. ROYCE. Madam Speaker, I rise in recognition of a great American, 
Mr. Jim Bowman, of the United States Air Force Academy.
  After 49 years of service to the Academy, Mr. Bowman has announced 
his retirement from his position of Assistant Athletic Director in 
charge of recruiting support for 27 varsity sports teams. Throughout 
his tenure, Bowman has led numerous sports teams, and has held various 
positions within the athletic department.
  Jim Bowman first came to the Air Force Academy in 1958 and was head 
junior varsity football coach for 4 years before becoming head freshman 
coach. He served as frosh coach until the 1975 season when he again 
assumed the J.V. program. In his five seasons as J.V. Head Coach, his 
teams compiled a 24-4-1 record and his 1963 and 1975 teams were 
undefeated. After the 1975 season, he retired as a coach to devote his 
full duties to the candidate counseling and admissions support program.
  His successes as a coach stem from his own on-field prowess, as Jim 
Bowman was a successful high school and collegiate athlete. Bowman, an 
all-conference player for Charlevoix High School, went undefeated all 4 
years he played. He later attended the University of Michigan, and 
received his varsity letter as a center in his senior year.
  Over his tenure at the Air Force Academy, he was a member of the 
staff that participated in 17 bowl games, including the 1959 Cotton 
Bowl and the 1971 Sugar Bowl. He coached over 1,000 Academy football 
players and helped over 11,000 athletes receive appointments to the 
Academy. Jim estimates that he has seen over 38,000 Cadets graduate. 
Indeed, his lifelong dedication is as commendable as it is astonishing.
  While he will undoubtedly be missed on the Air Force Academy campus 
and among the scores that have worked with him to place cadets at the 
Academy, his legacy will live on.

                          ____________________