Charles J. Bowles
Encyclopedia
Charles J. 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.
, 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.
. 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
.
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.
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. 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. Finally, Willamette University’s track and field complex at McCulloch Stadium
is named his honor.
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of physical education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
and human anatomy
Anatomy
Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...
at Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
for twenty-five years. He was also Willamette’s highly regarded cross-country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
and track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
coach. His teams won 20 Northwest Conference
Northwest Conference
The Northwest Conference is an athletic conference which competes in the NCAA's Division III. Member teams are located in the states of Oregon and Washington.-History:...
championships and 16 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
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
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
is named in his honor, and one of the largest track and field events in the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
also bears his name.
Early life
Bowles was born 28 March 1922 in PortlandPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. He attended high school in Portland, and then the University of Portland
University of Portland
The University of Portland is a private Roman Catholic university located in Portland, Oregon. It is affiliated with the Congregation of Holy Cross and is the sister school of the University of Notre Dame. Founded in 1901, UP has a student body of about 3,600 students...
. While a student at the University of Portland, he climbed Mount Hood
Mount Hood
Mount Hood, called Wy'east by the Multnomah tribe, is a stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc of northern Oregon. It was formed by a subduction zone and rests in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States...
. 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
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during the latter part of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Then returned to the University of Portland, where he received the schools first Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
degree in 1947.
Educator and coach
After graduating, he taught and was assistant track coach at the University of Portland before moving to Lake Oswego High SchoolLake Oswego High School
Lake Oswego High School is a public high school in Lake Oswego, Oregon. LOHS is accredited through the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges.-History:...
. At Lake Owego he taught chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
and coached both cross-country and the track and field team. From 1961 to 1965, Bowles lived in Eugene, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
. While there he earned a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in physiology
Physiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
of exercise from the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
, and served as the university’s freshman track coach and assistant varsity track coach under Bill Bowerman
Bill Bowerman
William Jay "Bill" Bowerman was an American track and field coach and co-founder of Nike, Inc. Over his career, he trained 31 Olympic athletes, 51 All-Americans, 12 American record-holders, 24 NCAA champions and 16 sub-4 minute milers...
.
In 1965, Bowles accepted a position a Willamette University in Salem, Oregon
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
. 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
Athletic director
An athletic director is an administrator at many American colleges and universities, as well as in larger high schools and middle schools, who oversees the work of coaches and related staff involved in intercollegiate or interscholastic athletic programs...
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.
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. He received the Oregon Sports Merit Award in 1983. 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. Today, the Willamette Valley Road Runners present the annual Charles J. Bowles Award for significant contributions to the field of running and fitness.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. 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. Finally, Willamette University’s track and field complex at McCulloch Stadium
McCulloch Stadium
McCulloch Stadium is a 2,500-seat outdoor stadium in Salem, Oregon, United States. Built in 1950, the multi-use facility serves as home to Willamette University's football and track & field teams, high school football games, and the Cascade Surge soccer club...
is named his honor.