- Charles J. Bowles
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Charles J. Bowles 
Chuck BowlesBorn 28 March 1922
Portland, Oregon, USADied 30 December 2005
Salem, Oregon, USAEducation University of Portland; University of Oregon Occupation Professor and collegiate coach Spouse Barbara Pitts Charles J. (“Chuck”) Bowles was a professor of physical education and human anatomy at Willamette University for twenty-five years. He was also Willamette’s highly regarded cross-country and track and field coach. His teams won 20 Northwest Conference championships and 16 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics District 2 championships. During his time at Willamette, Bowles coached 160 individual conference champions and 50 All-American athletes. His men’s cross-country teams won both conference and district titles five consecutive years between 1978 and 1982, and his men’s track and field team won nine of ten conference championships between 1978 and 1987. Today, the largest cross-country meet in the western United States is named in his honor, and one of the largest track and field events in the Pacific Northwest also bears his name.
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Early life
Bowles was born 28 March 1922 in Portland, Oregon. He attended high school in Portland, and then the University of Portland. While a student at the University of Portland, he climbed Mount Hood. At the top he met Barbara Pitts, who was a student at Willamette University. They married in 1943. That same year, Bowles graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Portland. He served in the United States Navy during the latter part of World War II. Then returned to the University of Portland, where he received the schools first Master of Science degree in 1947.[1][2]
Educator and coach
After graduating, he taught and was assistant track coach at the University of Portland before moving to Lake Oswego High School. At Lake Owego he taught chemistry and coached both cross-country and the track and field team. From 1961 to 1965, Bowles lived in Eugene, Oregon. While there he earned a PhD in physiology of exercise from the University of Oregon, and served as the university’s freshman track coach and assistant varsity track coach under Bill Bowerman.[1][2]
In 1965, Bowles accepted a position a Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. At Willamette, he taught physical education and human anatomy. He also coached the university’s cross-country and track and field teams. He served as athletic director from 1973 to 1976. At Willamette, Bowles led his teams to 20 Northwest Conference championships and 16 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics District 2 championships. As a coach, Bowles worked with individual athletes to bring out their best performances. As a result, he produced 160 individual conference champions and 50 All-American athletes. His men’s cross-country teams won both conference and district titles every year between 1978 and 1982, and his men’s track and field team won nine of ten conference championships between 1978 and 1987 including seven consecutive championships. Bowles retired in 1990 at the age of 67. After retirement, he continued to assist and support Willamette’s cross-country and track programs until his death in December 2005.[2][3]
Legacy
Bowles founded the Zena Road Run, sponsored summer all-comers track meets, and fall all-comers cross-country meets for kids. He also directed the Governor’s Trophy Run in its early years.[3] He received the Oregon Sports Merit Award in 1983.[4] In 1991, Bowles was inducted into the Willamette University Athletic Hall of Fame in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the heritage and tradition of the university’s intercollegiate athletics program.[2] Today, the Willamette Valley Road Runners present the annual Charles J. Bowles Award for significant contributions to the field of running and fitness.[5]
In 1975, Willamette University began hosting the Charles Bowles Invitational Cross-Country Meet. This meet is now the largest cross-county event in the western United States. In 2008, over 1,300 runners participated in four races, two each for men and women.[6] Willamette also hosts the Charles Bowles Spring Break Classic, which is one of the largest track and field events in the Pacific Northwest. The Charles Bowles Classic draws over 400 athletes to Salem each spring for a full range of track and field events.[3] Finally, Willamette University’s track and field complex at McCulloch Stadium is named his honor.[7]
References
- ^ a b "Charles Bowles", The Register-Guard, Eugene, Oregon, 3 March 2006.
- ^ a b c d "Chuck Bowles (1965-1990)", Willamette University Athletic Hall of Fame, Willamette University, Salem Oregon, 2008.
- ^ a b c Gault, Roy, "Chuck Bowles is Willamette Track and Field", The Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, 25 March 2005.
- ^ "Past OSA Winners", Merit Awards, Oregon Sports Awards, SportsOne, www.sports1inc.com, Portland, Oregon, 2007.
- ^ "The Charles J. Bowles Award", Willamette Valley Road Runners, www.wvroadrunners.org, Salem, Oregon, 2008.
- ^ Day, James and Gary Horowitz, "Charles Bowles Invitational set for Saturday", The Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon, 3 October 2008.
- ^ "Charles Bowles Track", Athletic Facilities, Willamette University, Salem, Oregon, 2008.
External links
Categories:- 1922 births
- 2005 deaths
- Willamette University faculty
- American track and field coaches
- People from Oregon
- People from Portland, Oregon
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