Biographical Text
Professor Emeritus of Chemistry. Herbert Louis Bowkley (July 9, 1921—) retired Professor of Chemistry, was born in Pittston, Pennsylvania to Raymond E. Bowkley (deceased), an Attorney at Law, born in Pittston, Penn.; mother, Louise Lewis Bowkley (deceased), a Registered Nurse and homemaker from Lower Island Cove, Newfoundland, Canada. Bowkley attended High Bridge High School in High Bridge, New Jersey, and was graduated in 1938. He attended Missouri School of Mines, Rolla, Missouri, 1946-47; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1947-50, B.S. in chemistry; Missouri School of Mines, Rolla, 1950-57, M.S. in chemistry; Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 1952-55, Ph.D., major in inorganic chemistry. Bowkley served in the U.S. Army during World War II, enlisting in February 1942. He served in the infantry and armored force from February 1942 until January 1943, attaining the rank of Technician 5th grade. He graduated from Engineer Officer Candidate School and served in the Corps of Engineers, seeing service in the South Pacific in 1942 and 1943. He attended Engineer Field Officers School in 1946. He was separated from service in 1946 and remained in the Officer Reserve Corps until retirement with the rank of Captain after more than 19 years of service, active and reserve. Dr. Bowkley was married to Betty A. Morrow (d. 1985). They have one son, Raymond E., and two daughters, Andrea L. Eykyn and Susan M. Greene. Bowkley served in the chemical industry in various capacities: Junior Research Chemist, National Lead Co., Titanium Division of South Amboy, N.J. from 1951 to 1952; Senior Research Chemist and Group Leader, Columbia-Southern Chemical Co., New Martinsville, West Virginia, 1955-56; Senior research Chemist Olin-Mathison Chemical Co., New Haven, Connecticut, 1956-57; Missouri School of Mines, Professor of Chemistry, 1958-60; Senior Research Chemist and Group Leader, American Cyanamid Company, Explosives Division, New Castle, Pennsylvania, 1960-63; Senior Research Chemist, Thiokol Chemical Company in Elkton, Maryland, 1963-64. Senior Research Chemist, Armour Agricultural Chemical Company, Decatur, Georgia, 1964-65. Dr. Bowkley was employed during the summer of 1967 and 1968 as a Senior Research Chemist at the U.S. Army Munitions Laboratory, Picatomy Arsenal, Dover, New Jersey. Dr. Bowkley began his career as professor of chemistry at Appalachian State University in 1965, a post which he held until retirement in 1986. While at Appalachian he was active in the Faculty Senate serving three terms from its inception. He served one semester as a faculty intern in the Office of Academic Affairs, and he spent one-half year in China on the China Exchange Program in 1985. Dr. Bowkley obtained several patents on commercial high explosives and fertilizer compositions. He was a member of Sigma Xi (honorary science society), Phi Lambda Upsilon (honorary chemistry society), Sigma Pi Sigma (honorary physics society), Alpha Chi Sigma (chemistry fraternity), American Forestry Association, American Institute of Chemists, and the Federation of Societies for Coatings Technology. Dr. Bowkley's hobbies and special interests include: fishing and camping activities; stamp and mineral collecting; reading about the Civil War, World War I, American Indian history; and nature and conservation activities. Dr. Herbert Bowkley is retired and resides in Boone, N.C. Source: Personal correspondence with Dr. Herbert Bowkley. - Dr. Richard D. Howe and Mr. David N. Simmons
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