[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 8]
[Senate]
[Pages 11151-11152]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO JOHN BOWLING

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize Mr. John 
Bowling of Laurel County, KY. ``Big John Bowling,'' as he is 
affectionately called by friends and family, not only served Laurel 
County as jailer during the 1970s, but has also lived a life of 
kindness and integrity. His legacy to Kentucky exceeds his public 
service because not only was he a compassionate jailer, he also built a 
loving home for his family that welcomed all members of the Laurel 
County community.
  John Bowling met his wife, Imogene, at a church dinner. After 
commenting on the quality of a macaroni salad at the dinner, his pastor 
introduced him to Imogene. At that time Imogene was married, but later, 
in 1964, her husband was tragically killed in a car crash and Imogene 
was left with three children aged 7, 4, and 2 years old. Imogene began 
working at Hoskins Grocery where, 5 years later, she and Mr. Bowling 
became reacquainted.
  The couple began dating and they brought Imogene's children along on 
every date. After 6 years, the couple married. In their first year of 
marriage, Imogene had another daughter, Tammy Jo. The four children 
loved their parents and considered John to be an excellent father. Mr. 
Bowling truly cared for the children, which he showed by ensuring 
chaperones came along on all of their dates which were only at church.
  The family continued to grow when Imogene was approached to take in 
Toni, a 21-year-old who did not have a palette in her mouth, had 
limited hearing in one ear, and no hearing canal in the other ear. 
Though Toni could only communicate through sign language, she quickly 
became part of the Bowling family.
  Crediting faith in God for their success in blending a harmonious 
family, John Bowling created a home atmosphere that was accepting of 
anyone who crossed his home's threshold. From adopting his wife's 
children, to taking in Toni, to allowing relatives and family friends 
to stay with the family, Big John made his home one of love.
  It is an honor today to pay tribute to my fellow Kentuckian, John 
Bowling. Mr. Bowling not only made a family and lovingly raised his 
children, but also opened up his home for those in need of a place of 
refuge and comfort. He is an example of what it means to live by the 
Golden Rule. The Laurel County community is better off today because of 
the impact ``Big John Bowling'' has made and the compassionate way in 
which he treated others.
  At this time I ask my Senate colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. 
John Bowling for his service to Laurel County, KY. An article from the 
Sentinel Echo: Silver Edition magazine, published in Laurel County, 
recently highlighted this humble man's invaluable contributions to his 
family and community. I ask unanimous consent that said article be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

            [The Sentinel-Echo: Silver Edition, Spring 2012]

                  Jailer by Vocation, Father at Heart

                           (By Nita Johnson)

       Though known more commonly as ``Big John Bowling,'' a 
     former and extremely popular county jailer, John Bowling is 
     also remembered as an excellent father.
       He was renowned for his kindness and humanity while serving 
     as Laurel County Jailer during the 1970s, traits he showed to 
     both jail employees and inmates and he also displayed to his 
     wife and children at home.
       Although only one of the five children he raised with his 
     wife, Imogene, was his biological child, Bowling's other 
     children recall him as being a loving father to them.
       Bowling met Imogene at a church dinner at Piney Grove 
     Holiness Church on Ky. 363 on an invitation from then-pastor 
     Bobby Medley. Bowling and Medley were good friends, and 
     Imogene, who was married at that time, and Medley's wife were 
     good

[[Page 11152]]

     friends, though Bowling and Imogene had never met. When 
     Bowling sampled some macaroni salad at the dinner that 
     Sunday, he was impressed.
       ``He said he told Bobby that he didn't know who made that 
     macaroni salad, but if she was single, he was going to marry 
     her,'' said his daughter, Joyce Parker. ``So Bobby introduced 
     John to Mom.''
       That meeting was one of the highlights of Imogene's life. 
     In 1964, her husband was killed in a car crash, leaving her 
     with three children--ages 7, 4, and 2--to raise alone. She 
     had no job, no car, no driver's license, and was herself very 
     ill.
       ``The day after the funeral, she went to Good Samaritan 
     Hospital,'' Parker explained. ``She was in and out of the 
     hospital five times for 10 days with bleeding ulcers.''
       ``She'd been eating vanilla wafers and drinking skim 
     milk,'' added Barbara Wells, another daughter.
       ``She was actually healed from the ulcers,'' Parker said. 
     ``She came home to spend some time with us and went to a 
     revival. The preacher went to her and told her she needed 
     healing. When she went back to the doctor, she didn't have 
     the ulcers.''
       Once back in good health, Imogene set out to obtain a job. 
     She got her driver's license, bought a car, and began working 
     at Warner's store in London around 1966. She later worked at 
     Hoskins Grocery on Ky. 363, where she met John again when he 
     came into the store one day.
       The couple began dating, with Imogene insisting on taking 
     the children with her on dates, even though other family 
     members offered to keep the children.
       ``When she and John dated, she wouldn't go without us,'' 
     Wells said. ``John had a truck with a camper on it and we'd 
     ride in the back and look through the window into the 
     front.''
       Their union came six years later. The family consisted of 
     Imogene's children, Barbara, Joyce, and Gerald, as well as 
     Imogene's mother, who had lived with them since Imogene's 
     husband died. Eleven months after their marriage, John and 
     Imogene became the parents of Tammy Jo.
       ``John was always good to us,'' Parker said. ``He hauled 
     trucks from GM dealers and he got us all a new watch so we 
     loved him.''
       ``He never spanked us,'' Wells added. ``I guess that's why 
     we never resented him. Mom did all the discipline.''
       ``The kids were never much trouble,'' Bowling said. ``They 
     were always good kids.''
       Wells, the eldest of the brood, said rules were very strict 
     at the Bowling household, however.
       ``We had curfews and rules. We had chaperones on our dates, 
     which was only going to church,'' she said. ``There was an 
     old lady that lived near us and, when I had a date, she 
     chaperoned us. Then later on, Joyce and Gerald chaperoned.''
       ``Then I chaperoned when Joyce dated,'' chimed in Tammy Jo.
       Children were always welcome at the Bowling household, with 
     nieces and nephews from both sides of the family often living 
     with the family. Imogene also took in disabled adults and 
     elderly persons, as she was certified to keep as many as 
     three at one time.
       Then the family extended again with the arrival of Toni, 
     who has now lived with the Bowling family for 38 years.
       ``She was an orphan and was born with deformities,'' 
     Imogene said. ``Her father wanted to just leave her at the 
     hospital (in Philadelphia) but her mother wouldn't do it. She 
     remarried and had another child and died. The stepfather kept 
     (Toni) around until the baby was big enough that he could 
     take care of her and he took her to a mental health office.
       ``They called me and asked if I could take her,'' Imogene 
     continued. ``She cried every day, all day, for three weeks 
     and I told them I couldn't keep her. Then she started doing 
     better. She's been with us since she was 21 years old.''
       Toni, who lacked a palette in her mouth and had only 20 
     percent hearing in one ear and no hearing canal in the other 
     ear, can speak only partially and uses sign language to 
     communicate. But she is as much a part of the Bowling family 
     as the other four children, all of whom express their love 
     for one another.
       While many question the success of blended families, the 
     Bowling family credits their faith in God and religious 
     background for their own success. They also credit the 
     demeanor of their parents.
       ``John was not a typical stepfather,'' Parker said. ``He 
     took care of us, always worked hard and my parents never 
     raised their voices.''
       ``I think one key to blended families is that Mom did the 
     discipline,'' Wells said. ``My husband, Mark, has three 
     stepdaughters and he never spanked them. I did the 
     discipline. I think that is one reason that our family 
     worked. We didn't have that jealousy or resentment or saying 
     that he wasn't the real dad.''
       Whatever the secret of successfully blended families may 
     be, the Bowlings and their children all agree that staying in 
     church was a key factor. Now approaching their 43rd 
     anniversary in June, the couple continues to stay close to 
     their children, always showing their love and support for one 
     another and celebrating the true meaning of family.

                          ____________________