Hall of Fame
Bill Bowles was a three-time letterwinner as a tackle on the football squad from 1952-54. Bowles attended the University of Missouri in 1951 and lettered in football as a tackle before transferring to Truman. He earned second-team all-MIAA honors in 1952 and 1953 and was a first-team selection in 1954. Bowles served as a team captain for the Bulldogs during the 1954 campaign. While playing for Truman, he helped the team to a 20-4 overall record as the Bulldogs won three MIAA championships. During those three years, Truman outscored the opposition by 13 points a game with the offense averaging 21.5 points and the defense allowing just 8.5 a game. After completing his college career, Bowles coached at Kirksville High School, his alma mater, taking over as head track coach in 1955-56, and assisted with football and basketball under John Spainhower that year. He spent the next three years as head football coach at St. Charles High School. In 1959, Bowles was named the head football coach at Centralia High School, leading the team to conference titles in 1959 and 1960. He moved to the Spokane, Wash., area in 1961, coaching and teaching at two high schools before retiring in 1988 from West Valley High School where he was vice principal. Bowles earned a bachelor of science education degree in physical education from Truman in 1955, and a master's degree in physical education from the University in 1961. He received administrative credentials from Gonzaga University (Wash.) in 1974. Bowles was a standout as a football, basketball and track athlete in high school, lettering four years in football for the Tigers.
