Mr. Jimmy Dale Bowen

Mr. Jim “Jimmy” Dale Bowen, 78, of Louisville, KY, passed away peacefully on April 12, 2016. Jimmy was born in Waycross, Georgia on October 22, 1937 to the late William James and Ida Myrtle (Purcell) Bowen. He grew up in Waycross and graduated from Waycross High School in 1955, where he lettered in Football and Track & Field. During High School, he set many records as a football halfback. Additionally, he was selected to compete in the 100 & 220 yard dashes at the State Level, setting a state record that held for thirteen years. After High School, he briefly attended Troy State University on a Track & Field Scholarship and later transferred to South Georgia College in Douglas. At South Georgia, he had the life changing privilege of playing football under the legendary Coach Bobby Bowden, during Bowden’s first ever coaching job. Throughout these years, Jimmy learned lifelong lessons and formed friendships that would span a lifetime, as this group of young football players on the 1955/1956 South Georgia College football team would remain friends and become known as the “Boys from South Georgia”. At South Georgia, he also worked in the printing room and was a Sports Reporter for the School Newspaper. Upon graduating in June of 1957, Jimmy served in the US Airforce, working mainly as an Investigator for the Office of Investigations. When stationed in Montana, he met and married the love of his life, Dell, and together they raised three children, while being stationed in numerous domestic and international locations. He retired after twenty years of service (Active and Reserve) and remained a member of the American Legion until his death. Over the next couple of decades, he worked for the US Treasury Department (ATF Division) as a criminal investigator as well as the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Brunswick, Georgia, as an instructor. It was widely known that Jimmy blew up many a “still” during his days as a Georgia Revenuer. It was at FLETC that he wrote and contributed to several training manuals. Jimmy and his wife, Dell, retired to Griffin, Georgia in 1999 to be near family and were active at Second Baptist Church. They were also involved in renovating and restoring homes, as he was a skilled carpenter. In 2006 they relocated to Louisville, Kentucky to be closer to their children and grandchildren and became active members of Southeast Christian Church. Jimmy had many passions; among them were “football and writing”! Although both of these were thoroughly engaged most of his life, it was not until retirement that the two fully intersected. After seven years of research, Jimmy’s dream of authoring a book as a tribute to his lifelong mentor came true. In 2008, “Bobby Bowden, Memories of a Legend and his Boys from South Georgia” was completed and published by Cold Tree Press. Today, this 1955/1956 football team and their Coach continue to host an annual reunion in Douglas, GA. This year they will be one player short as Number 14 has written the final page of his earthly journey. Rest assured, he has already started his new book that will last for eternity. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Dell (Wilson) Bowen of Louisville, KY; children - Dr. Jimmy Dayland Bowen (Kelly) of Cape Girardeau, MO, Captain William Tay Bowen (Melissa) of Louisville, KY and Mari Ann Bowen Hermann (Robert) of Omaha, NE. Grandchildren - Kelson Reid Bowen, Chase London Bowen, Aris Richard Bowen, Nicole Marie Beck McLearen (Luke), Sydney Leigh Sontag, Tierney Jade Hermann and Erica Peyton Hermann. Great grandchild - Caleb Jackson McLearen. Sisters – Ann Bowen Imes Corry of Greensboro/Griffin, GA and Jeanie Bowen Jones Wilson of Greensboro, GA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Shriners Club at www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/donate or your favorite charity in Mr. Bowen’s name. Please join us for a Veteran’s Graveside “Celebration of Life” at 2:00 pm on June 26, 2016 in the Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery on Memorial Drive.

Mr. Jimmy Dale Bowen

October 22, 1937 - April 12, 2016