I well remember the day I met Earl Bowman Jr. He sought me out and, with a warm smile, asked all about me. He showed genuine interest and grace. When he learned that I had spent my early years in north Minneapolis on Plymouth Avenue as the youngest of eleven children, an inexplicable bond developed between us. Our conversations were not profound—just honest, heartfelt talks about values, purpose, and, most importantly, treating people with respect, fairness, and grace.
Earl Bowman was a trailblazer, and many of us learned lasting life lessons from him: value history and learn from it; build relationships; respect and appreciate one another; and make a difference. Never give up.
He left a legacy of a significant life well lived. On June 17, 2005, hundreds of people—young and old, friends and relatives, from all walks of life—gathered to celebrate Earl Bowman’s life. It amazed me, though it should not have, to see so many Macalester alumni in attendance. That was Earl. He made an indelible mark on me, on us, on the greater community, and beyond.
A fellow alum, Brodrick (Rick) Grubb—Macalester Class of 1973, member of the Macalester Board of Trustees, and the Macalester College Naming Committee—shared this dedication speech to a group assembled at the entrance of the newly named Bowman Hall on the campus of Macalester College on Friday, October 10, 2025.
Tribute Speech by Brodrick (Rick) Grubb
On behalf of President Rivera, the Board of Trustees, and the entire Macalester family, I extend a warm and heartfelt welcome to everyone assembled here to celebrate and honor the name, memory, and accomplishments of Earl Wesley Bowman, Jr., Macalester Class of 1950, in a tangible and lasting way.
This day has been a long time coming. I readily admit that patience is not one of my great virtues. However, I have learned to accept the fact that everything happens in God’s time—according to His schedule, will, and purpose. So here we are on this day, in this wonderful place, and at this time, to honor Earl Bowman as Macalester College formally dedicates this building as Bowman Hall.
Psalm 118:24 says it best: “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Today, we rejoice and are glad to bestow this honor on Earl Bowman and the Bowman family.
I want to thank my good friend and former Board Trustee, Paul Olson (Macalester Class of 1972), for bringing this nomination forward. Paul, like Earl, is a member of the Macalester Hall of Fame and is widely known for his love for and generosity toward Macalester. You should talk to Paul if you want to know what kind of leader Earl was—or how deeply he affected the lives of young people.
While we are honoring Earl today, I would be remiss if I did not also recognize the Bowman family for their many personal and community accomplishments. Earl was the product of a great family environment—one focused on achievement and service.
His brother, Henry Bowman, began his academic career at Macalester in the early 1940s, where he also played football. He left Macalester to fulfill his lifelong ambition to learn to fly, enlisting in the Army Air Corps and being assigned to the segregated complex at Tuskegee, Alabama. There, he became a member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen and rose to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. Henry served honorably in World War II, spent 21 years in the military, and went on to a distinguished business career.
Earl’s sister, Harriet Bowman, was the first Black cheerleader at Minneapolis Central High School. She later had a lengthy career at Northwestern Bell and, after retirement, continued serving her community by volunteering at McRae Park in South Minneapolis.
Harriet’s daughter and Earl’s niece, Dana Purdue Williams, became the first Black cheerleader at the University of Minnesota. She has continued the family’s legacy of service by helping young inner-city girls and supporting football camps at McRae Park.
It’s clear that the values of education, achievement, and community involvement continue through the current generation of Bowmans.
I met Earl in 1969, when I came to Macalester as a first-year student upon receiving an Expanded Educational Opportunities Scholarship. Earl had returned to Macalester that same year as a Special Assistant to President Arthur Fleming. He went on to serve the college as Director of Development, Dean of Students, and Vice President for Student Affairs, and later became President of Minneapolis Community and Technical College.
However, while impressive, these titles and positions tell only a small part of the story. Earl Bowman was a trailblazer who faced and overcame significant racial discrimination in Minnesota and beyond. Often, he was the most qualified candidate for a position but was overlooked or denied opportunities because of his race. Yet he never allowed discrimination or prejudice to define him or to stop him from reaching his goals.
Earl taught us to value history, build relationships, respect and appreciate one another, and—if given the chance—make a difference. He was a man of high intellect, honesty, and integrity. He became a role model without even realizing it. I watched how he carried himself: how he dressed, how he entered a room and commanded respect, and how he brought people from diverse backgrounds together.
I saw how he quietly helped students and young people simply because it was the right thing to do. He taught that bad decisions have consequences, but he also believed that youthful mistakes should not be life sentences. In other words, he believed in second chances.
Earl Bowman left a legacy of a significant life well lived. His daily example—his life and his encouragement—showed that even someone like me, growing up with limited means and support on the “wrong side of the tracks” in Port Arthur, Texas, could receive an excellent education at one of the finest colleges in the U.S., go on to earn an advanced degree, and become a strong father, a successful businessman, and a community leader.
Earl Bowman brought great honor to Macalester—as a student, athlete, educator, coach, administrator, community leader, and advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion long before those terms became commonplace. He opened doors and created opportunities for others.
It is right and proper that we honor him today. The name of Earl W. Bowman, Jr. will now be forever linked with this institution. I hope that the residents of this dormitory and students at Macalester College will take time to learn more about Dean Bowman and his accomplishments—I promise it will be time well spent.
May this honor serve as a reminder to all of how much Earl Bowman meant to Macalester College, this community, and everyone whose life he touched.
Thank you.
