Press Release                                        October 28, 2003

National Rural Water Association
2915 S. 13^th Street
Duncan, OK 73533
580-252-0629   FAX 580-255-4476
Contact:  Kris R. Cash, nrwakc@nrwa.org
 

Bowman Receives “The Rural Water Star Award”

Officials at the National Rural Water Association are pleased to announce that Larry Bowman, recently retired Director of Water Programs Division for Rural Utilities Services, received the Rural Water Star Award that was presented at the NRWA Annual Leadership and Technology Exhibit Center Forum held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, October 19-22.

Presented to individuals who have gone above and beyond the everyday call of service and dedication; people to whom rural water is more than just a job … more than just a means to an end.

This friend of NRWA is responsible for seeing the issuance of over 20 billion dollars in federal grants and loans to rural water during his 33 years in public service.  He has seen many challenges primarily in the areas of congressional services, budgeting, loan servicing and support to state offices.  Always a steady and knowledgeable person, Bowman has gone toe-to-toe in the political arena for the procurement of funds to make rural living better for all.   

Living by his motto of working together, Bowman was there in the beginning of the National Rural Water Association.  He recalls meeting with R.K. Johnson back in 1978, concerning the Circuit Rider Program. What is now a well established program was but a dream when he first began his work as a loan specialist in the national office of FmHA.  As he describes it, “I was the lucky winner of the Circuit Rider program because I had experience with contracts.”  Through 1978, all of ’79, and into 1980 he worked hand-in-hand with R.K. and other key people to bring about the Circuit Rider Program.  

Serving rural America has always been a way of life for this “star.”  Growing up on a farm near Fostoria, Ohio and majoring in Agricultural Economics at Ohio State, Larry jump-started his career as a student trainee in 1968 with FmHA.  Beginning in 1969, he went to work as the Assistant County Supervisor for FmHa in Carrolton, Ohio.  Quickly moving up through the ranks he became County Supervisor in Marysville and Bellefontaine then went on to the State Office as a Property Management Specialist and launched into the national scene by 1978 as a Loan Specialist for the Water and Waste Disposal Division of FmHA. 

As the years progressed and Larry moved from county to state up to the national scene, his reputation for leading, guiding and developing water programs increased with him.  In 1985 he became Branch Chief of the Water Programs Division for FmHA, RDA, RUS and in 1999 he was appointed Director of the Water Programs Division for RUS.  Lauded for patience, persistence and his ability to be a devil’s advocate when needed, his help was always in great demand. 

Bowman’s passion for rural America continues even into retirement with his words of encouragement to those still in the ball game.  He believes that NRWA needs to continue to focus on funding and keeping up the budget.  It is important to tell the story of rural water and wastewater services across America.  The nation needs to know what rural water is about. Always measuring and striving to improve the reporting of results can do this.  Perhaps his greatest wisdom to NRWA and State Rural Water Associations lies in what he discovered in the very beginning of his career, “Rural communities are hardly out for themselves.  They focus on the community and what is in the best interest of the citizens of rural America.”  

Photo:  Larry Bowman and Rob Johnson, NRWA CEO