Jim Bowden, loving father and grandfather, was born February 25, 1925, in Mejia, Texas and was called home to the Lord on November 19, 2007. He graduated from Odessa High School and, following Pearl Harbor, enlisted in the Navy at the age of 17. After the war he came to Texas Western College on a football scholarship. As the quarterback he led the Miners to two Sun Bowl appearances and still holds the school record for most yards per completion. Upon graduation from Texas Western, he taught and coached at Bowie H.S. for two years before moving to Fabens to begin farming with his father-in-law, Frank Owen, Jr. While farming, he served as the president of the Lower Valley Cotton Association as well as the County Recreation Board where he was involved in acquiring the land for Ascarate Lake and Golf Course. In 1966 he became the Assistant Athletic Director at UTEP and then became the Athletic Director in 1974. During his tenure as AD, he was instrumental in the construction of the Special Events Center (now the Don Haskins Center). He also served on the Ysleta ISD School Board, 1965-1977. Jim was a 32nd degree Mason and Past Grand Master of the Fabens Lodge. He was an active member of St. Luke United Methodist Church. Jim was preceded in death by his wife Chickie, his parents Orville and Mae Bowden and sister Jeannette Mahaffey. He is survived by his daughters Cindy Smith (Kim), Becky O'Neill (Pat) and Debbie Bowden Pritchard (Wayne), and his son, Jim (Karen). Also surviving are his six grandchildren: Tirey and Christopher Smith, Lauren and Bradley O'neill, Jackson Pritchard and Campbell Bowden; two sisters, Dorris Wendt (Fred) and Jane Pettit (Ralph); sister-in-law Marianne Owen; and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held Sunday from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Martin Funeral Home Central, 3839 Montana Ave. Funeral will be held Monday Nov. 26, 2007 at St. Luke's United Methodist Church. at 12:30 pm. Interment at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery. Service entrusted to Martin Funeral H. Central.
Thank You Ann Hunt For Cemetery Photo~elpasotimes.com