[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12757]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF CAPTAIN JEFF BOWEN OF THE ASHEVILLE 
                            FIRE DEPARTMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HEATH SHULER

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, August 1, 2011

  Mr. SHULER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Captain 
Jeff Bowen for his distinguished service in the Asheville City Fire 
Department.
  A husband and father of three, Captain Bowen passed away July 29th, 
2011, at the age of 37, while serving the people of Asheville, North 
Carolina. Captain Bowen first joined the Asheville Fire Department 13 
years ago and dedicated himself fully to protecting the city until his 
life was claimed during a fire at a Biltmore Avenue medical office 
building.
  Firefighters serve as an integral part of our community. It is 
remarkable that men such as Captain Bowen commit themselves to a 
profession that engenders such risk and sacrifice. These stakes often 
fashion strong friendships and bonds that go beyond the walls of any 
fire department. Today, we all stand with the 240 firefighters in the 
Asheville Fire Department who lost a colleague, a friend, and a 
brother. We also pray for Captain Bowen's wife, Stacy, and his three 
children as they grieve for the loss of a remarkable husband and 
father.
  Captain Bowen was often described as a ``firefighter's firefighter,'' 
a selfless man who truly enjoyed coming to work every shift. He was 
respected by his fellow firefighters and appreciated by his officers. 
Through his commendable service, Captain Bowen has made Western North 
Carolina proud. It is my honor to commemorate him, and I urge my 
colleagues to join me today in honoring Captain Jeff Bowen for the 
sacrifice he has made for the city of Asheville, the citizens of North 
Carolina, and the people of the United States.

                          ____________________