PULLMAN, Wash. – Ralph Andrew Bowman, a physical plant custodian who worked at WSU Pullman from June 1963 to June 1999, died Oct. 11, 2017. He was 75.
Bowman was born Sept. 27, 1942, in Lemoore, Calif., to George and Joyce Lees Bowman. He grew up in the San Bernardino area with his two sisters, Mary and Toni Lyn. Ralph was a Cub Scout and was active in 4-H. He liked to raise chickens and even peddled their eggs on a route that he developed.
Bowman’s family moved to Pullman when he was in junior high. Although he didn’t play sports he was very active with the high school teams as a team manager. He joined Simpson Methodist Church in high school and developed a love and relationship with the church that lasted his lifetime. He graduated from Pullman High School in 1961.
Bowman began working for Washington State University as a janitor and held that job until his retirement some 37 years later. He loved to travel and went on several mission trips with his church, including a trip to Mexico.
His loved sports and spent countless hours recording by hand the statistics of athletes into binders and books that he kept. Each evening, Ralph would phone the newspapers and give the sports recap for the various events that had taken place that day.
For 50 years he kept the stats for the American Legion and Babe Ruth baseball teams. His volunteer service to Pullman High Athletics was his true passion and hobby. They honored him by naming one of the high school fields the Ralph Bowman Field.
He had received many awards and tributes over the years from the Pullman Athletic Sports Banquets and has a star on the downtown walk of fame.
Bowman also was active in the Pullman Senior Center and served on their board of directors. He was proud of the fact that his mother had helped form the senior center. He also was a member of Kiwanis Club in Pullman, and a Cougar Athletics season ticket holder, and travelled to the Rose Bowl twice.
Bowman is survived by two sisters; Mary Legry of Vancouver, Wash., and Toni Lyn Bowman of Davis, Calif.; his nephew, David Legry of Seattle, and his niece, Katherine Legry of Portland, Ore., and two great-nephews; Atticus Legry and Dziga Legry both of Seattle. He was preceded in death by his parents. The family suggests memorial gifts be made to the Pullman Senior Center.