Indiana Governor, Presidential Cabinet Secretary. He received bachelor's (1939) and medical (1942) degrees from Indiana University and became a physician. He served in the Army Medical Corps during World War II, and was discharged as a Captain in 1946. A Republican, in 1952 he was elected Marshall County Coroner. From 1956 to 1958 and 1960 to 1972 he served in the Indiana House of Representatives, holding the position of House Speaker from 1967 to 1972. In 1968 he ran unsuccessfully for Governor, and he ran successfully in 1972 and 1976, holding office from 1973 to 1981. As Governor he worked to reform the state tax system, raising sales and other taxes in order to reduce property taxes. He then became a Professor at Indiana University, where he remained until 1985, when he was appointed US Secretary of Health and Human Services. As HHS Secretary, Bowen worked with Surgeon General C. Everett Koop to promote awareness and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, including Koop's mailing to 107 million households of a pamphlet with explicit advice on how to avoid the AIDS virus. Bowen served as Secretary until 1989, when he retired to his home in Bremen, Indiana. He died at Catherine Kasper Life Center, a nursing home in Donaldson, Indiana.
Indiana Governor, Presidential Cabinet Secretary. He received bachelor's (1939) and medical (1942) degrees from Indiana University and became a physician. He served in the Army Medical Corps during World War II, and was discharged as a Captain in 1946. A Republican, in 1952 he was elected Marshall County Coroner. From 1956 to 1958 and 1960 to 1972 he served in the Indiana House of Representatives, holding the position of House Speaker from 1967 to 1972. In 1968 he ran unsuccessfully for Governor, and he ran successfully in 1972 and 1976, holding office from 1973 to 1981. As Governor he worked to reform the state tax system, raising sales and other taxes in order to reduce property taxes. He then became a Professor at Indiana University, where he remained until 1985, when he was appointed US Secretary of Health and Human Services. As HHS Secretary, Bowen worked with Surgeon General C. Everett Koop to promote awareness and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, including Koop's mailing to 107 million households of a pamphlet with explicit advice on how to avoid the AIDS virus. Bowen served as Secretary until 1989, when he retired to his home in Bremen, Indiana. He died at Catherine Kasper Life Center, a nursing home in Donaldson, Indiana.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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