Clayton H. Bowman

Clayton H. Bowman

Col. Clayton H. Bowman, 82, Topeka, died Thursday, April 15, 2004, at a Topeka hospital. He was born Dec. 20, 1921, in Topeka to James Edgar and Hilma Johnson Bowman. He graduated from Topeka High in 1942 before he enlisted in the U.S. Army at Fort Riley on Sept. 11. He entered the Aviation Cadet program at San Antonio, Texas, and graduated as a pilot in April 1944. He went on to train in the C-47 aircraft in Missouri before being assigned to the European Theater, where he remained for 22 months. After returning home in 1946 as a second lieutenant, he joined the Air Force Reserve. In 1949 he joined the Kansas Army National Guard as a liaison pilot, and later transferred to the Air National Guard in 1950 as air base commander. In 1952 he transferred to Wichita as the commander of the 8127th Fighter Squadron and later was named commander of Headquarters, Kansas Air National Guard. Col. Bowman returned to active duty on July 1, 1974, as the United States Property and Fiscal Officer for Kansas, as the first Air Guardsman to hold that post. He retired in January 1982 with 40 years of federal service. Col. Bowman attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, D.C., Air Command and Staff College and Air War College at Maxwell AFB, Ala. (the first Air Guard officer from Kansas to complete Air War College) and numerous courses in logistics and flight management. Among his awards and decorations are the Legion of Merit, Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Eagle award from the National Guard Bureau, Good Conduct Medal, American Theatre Medal with four battle stars, Victory Ribbon, Occupation Ribbon, Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with four devices, and Armed Forces Reserve Medal with two hour glass devices. He had over 8000 hours of flying time. His memberships included the "Quiet Birdman," life member of the National Guard Association of the U .S., and the National Guard Association of Kansas. He was also a life member of the Kansas Enlisted Association. He was the chair of Rural Water District No. 6 for four years, and was a Mission Township Trustee for eight years. He was a member of the Topeka Art Guild and was a video person for the veterans history program in Washington, D.C. He married Betty L. Hill on Oct. 2, 1943, in Topeka. She survives, of the home. Also surviving are three daughters: Anne and Bob Longwell of Hagerstown, Md., Dana and Larry Hahn of Topeka, and Jeri and Mike Dennis of Grand Prairie, Texas. He is survived also by two brothers, Jim and Allen Bowman, both of Topeka. His grandchildren are Todd, Courtney, Michael, Ian and Kara. A step-granddaughter is Windi, and there are two great-grandchildren, T.J. and Trevor. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel, 245 N.W. Independence. Col. Bowman will lie in state there after 3 p.m. Monday. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Committal will be at Leavenworth National Cemetery, Leavenworth, with military honors conducted by the Adjutant General's Ceremonial Platoon at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. Memorial contributions may be made to the National Guard Museum, P. O. Box 19031, Topeka 66619-9031. Online condolences may be sent to penwellgabel.com