1st wife
Name Betty Jo Moore
Event Type Birth
Event Date 20 Jun 1926
Event Place Harris, Texas
Gender Female
Father's Name Neil Garrett Moore
Mother's Name Lillian Walker
Bowman was inducted posthumously into the Texas Heroes Hall of Honor at the Frontier Times Museum in Bandera "one of the fastest guns alive"
JOE BOWMAN, of Houston, Texas, passed away peacefully on June 29th, 2009 at the age of 84. Joe was a very special man with a multitude of gifts and talent that he chose to share with the world. Joe lived an extremely rich and full life filled with love, laughter, travel and more adventures than most people ever dream of experiencing. He was a man that could imagine, conceptualize and accomplish amazing things with his God given talent. Joe leaves a host of friends and family from around the globe to mourn his passing and celebrate his life. Joe's life was punctuated by great passion for giving, patriotism, love for family, humor and an abundant love for all things "Western". He was a standard bearer for the history and legacy of Texas heritage and took this passion which evolved into his life's work. Joe was born in Johnson City, TN on April 12, 1925. Joe loved the Boy Scouts and attained the rank of Eagle Scout growing up in Houston. He graduated from Sam Houston High School in 1943, attended University of Houston, but was drafted into the US Army in WWII. Joe served in France during the German occupation and during this time he earned 3 Bronze Stars, and a Purple Heart. Joe was seriously injured after taking a land mine hit during combat in 1944, but came back to Houston after the war to start the Bowman/DeGeorge Boot Shop, where his leather crafting began to receive major notice from around the world. One notable customer of Joe's was Roy Rogers, who purchased belts and 2 pairs of extremely ornate Western boots that still reside in Roy & Dale's museum today. Joe was a gunsmith and master craftsman of leather boots, belts, saddles and competition fast draw holsters. Joe's expertise is rarely found on this planet today, but it was his code of honor to deliver commitment to quality. Hence, the evolution of his moniker - "The Straight Shooter"... Joe was also a western gun and fast draw expert, with a resolute passion for the preservation of Western culture and history. His encyclopedic knowledge of these details would amaze his friends. You could tell this man was doing what he loved. Joe was also lucky enough to transition from the boot making business to making a living doing something he loved. Joe started getting attention from Hollywood as a resident expert in Fast Draw, as a holster innovator, master leather craftsman and Texas historian. But most importantly, Joe Bowman loved his family and his friends. Joe's accomplishments are of legend doing shows for royalty, foreign diplomats, astronauts as well as cosmonauts, consultant to Hollywood for his western expertise, coaching Robert Duvall for his role in Lonesome Dove, his close lifelong friendship with Sammy Davis, Jr., and the John Wayne family. Joe was even appointed "Worldwide Ambassador to Texas" by the Governor. Yet Joe knew that fame, accomplishments and the public eye meant nothing ultimately - it was all about heart, humility, spirituality, patriotism and character. And Joe had many, many friends that possess those qualities. Joe is survived by his wife of 17 years, Betty Reid-Bowman, his 2 children, Jan Bowman of Dallas, Texas; Mark Bowman and his wife Charlene, of Austin, Texas. Joe is also survived by his brother, Mark M. Bowman, Jr. of Denver, Colorado and close family friend Angela Fiorelli of Dallas, Texas. Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family on July 6, 2009 from 6-9 PM at Forest Park Lawndale. The Funeral Service will follow the next day and be conducted at 10 AM on July 7, 2009 at Forest Park Lawndale, at 6900 Lawndale Ave. in Houston, Texas. Graveside Services will immediately follow at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery.
Joe Bowman: A finely tooled life
On June 29, the West lost one of its most devoted cowboys—Joe Bowman. Though times had changes and his idols like Roy Rogers had long passed, Bowman—a renowned sharp shooter—never gave up on his love for the Wild West, the cowboy's way of life, and the basic belief that there is a clear divide between good and evil.
Born in Johnson City, Tennessee on April 12, 1925, Bowman took up shooting at age 6 and became a fast fan of westerns starring Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, and others. He and his brother Mark would spend Saturday mornings at the matinee shows, staring in wonder as their idols would take down the bad guys. Bowman once told the Houston Chronicle, "What I remember is the morality of the westerns and of the cowboys. That's all what westerns were: morality plays, where there was good and evil. Now look at the movies and on TV: good can be bad, there's no distinct line. I don't think kids learn from that."
Taking a cue from his big screen idols, Bowman worked to develop his own unique quick-draw techniques. He practiced from the back porch of his house, using his BB gun to shoot flies off of trash cans. At age 12, Bowman's father moved the family to Houston, where Bowman attended Sam Houston High School.
While in Houston, Bowman learned a trade that would later earn him the business of one his favorite cowboys—Roy Rogers himself. Bowman worked as an apprentice at Roy Smith Boots and Palace Boots, learning the art of boot-making. After his Army service in World War II, Bowman returned to Houston and opened the Bowman and DeGeorge Boot Shop. Word spread of Bowman's talent for crafting and finely detailing boots, saddles, belts and holsters, and eventually Roy Rogers enlisted Bowman to make him a pair of boots with red roses on the sides and gold toes and heels.
In the early 1960s, Bowman sold his boot shop and became a salesman for a drafting company. On the side, Bowman began performing shooting stunts at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, along with other conventions. Eventually, Bowman decided to devote himself entirely to his beloved pastime and went on tour across the country as a one-man shooting show. He wore a cowboy hat and tooled-leather boots that he crafted himself. His act included a fast-draw and twirling exhibition, in which he used his re-tooled Ruger .357 Blackhawk, along with card tricks, story-telling, and lassoing. Bowman add new dares and stunts to his routine and ignited his audience with his performance. One of his fellow performers, James Drury, who starred in the 1960s television series The Virginian, said Bowman "could hit an Anacin tablet with a .22 rifle at 30 yards and pulverize it every time." Drury said that in a only a fraction of a second, Bowman could fire three shots at 30 paces through the middle of a 50-cent piece.
Bowman crowned himself the "Master of Triggernometry" and the "Straight Shooter," and his fame earned the attention of several actors in Hollywood who solicited his expertise when preparing for Westerns. Bowman gave lessons to Robert Duvall for his role in Lonesome Dove, as well as James Arness for Gunsmoke. Bowman also taught real-life crime fighters—FBI agents and law enforcement officers—how to handle a gun, including a lesson on "instinct shooting," which Bowman described as relying on the eye and aligning the body correctly instead of taking the time to aim down the gun sight.
Even in the last week of his life, Bowman was still putting on a show. On his way home from a sharpshooting exhibition in Albuquerque, Bowman stopped in the West Texas town of Junction for the night. It would be the last place he hung his hat. At age 84, after a lifetime of bringing excitement into the lives of others and a deep appreciation for the cowboy's way, Joe Bowman passed away.
Just as Captain Woodrow F. Call famously told his lifetime friend Captain Augustus McCrae in Lonesome Dove, we as Texans can also say "You're one of a kind, Joe. We're gonna miss you."
Sugar Land Sun (TX) - Thursday, July 23, 2009
Name Betty Jo Moore
Event Type Birth
Event Date 20 Jun 1926
Event Place Harris, Texas
Gender Female
Father's Name Neil Garrett Moore
Mother's Name Lillian Walker
Bowman was inducted posthumously into the Texas Heroes Hall of Honor at the Frontier Times Museum in Bandera "one of the fastest guns alive"
JOE BOWMAN, of Houston, Texas, passed away peacefully on June 29th, 2009 at the age of 84. Joe was a very special man with a multitude of gifts and talent that he chose to share with the world. Joe lived an extremely rich and full life filled with love, laughter, travel and more adventures than most people ever dream of experiencing. He was a man that could imagine, conceptualize and accomplish amazing things with his God given talent. Joe leaves a host of friends and family from around the globe to mourn his passing and celebrate his life. Joe's life was punctuated by great passion for giving, patriotism, love for family, humor and an abundant love for all things "Western". He was a standard bearer for the history and legacy of Texas heritage and took this passion which evolved into his life's work. Joe was born in Johnson City, TN on April 12, 1925. Joe loved the Boy Scouts and attained the rank of Eagle Scout growing up in Houston. He graduated from Sam Houston High School in 1943, attended University of Houston, but was drafted into the US Army in WWII. Joe served in France during the German occupation and during this time he earned 3 Bronze Stars, and a Purple Heart. Joe was seriously injured after taking a land mine hit during combat in 1944, but came back to Houston after the war to start the Bowman/DeGeorge Boot Shop, where his leather crafting began to receive major notice from around the world. One notable customer of Joe's was Roy Rogers, who purchased belts and 2 pairs of extremely ornate Western boots that still reside in Roy & Dale's museum today. Joe was a gunsmith and master craftsman of leather boots, belts, saddles and competition fast draw holsters. Joe's expertise is rarely found on this planet today, but it was his code of honor to deliver commitment to quality. Hence, the evolution of his moniker - "The Straight Shooter"... Joe was also a western gun and fast draw expert, with a resolute passion for the preservation of Western culture and history. His encyclopedic knowledge of these details would amaze his friends. You could tell this man was doing what he loved. Joe was also lucky enough to transition from the boot making business to making a living doing something he loved. Joe started getting attention from Hollywood as a resident expert in Fast Draw, as a holster innovator, master leather craftsman and Texas historian. But most importantly, Joe Bowman loved his family and his friends. Joe's accomplishments are of legend doing shows for royalty, foreign diplomats, astronauts as well as cosmonauts, consultant to Hollywood for his western expertise, coaching Robert Duvall for his role in Lonesome Dove, his close lifelong friendship with Sammy Davis, Jr., and the John Wayne family. Joe was even appointed "Worldwide Ambassador to Texas" by the Governor. Yet Joe knew that fame, accomplishments and the public eye meant nothing ultimately - it was all about heart, humility, spirituality, patriotism and character. And Joe had many, many friends that possess those qualities. Joe is survived by his wife of 17 years, Betty Reid-Bowman, his 2 children, Jan Bowman of Dallas, Texas; Mark Bowman and his wife Charlene, of Austin, Texas. Joe is also survived by his brother, Mark M. Bowman, Jr. of Denver, Colorado and close family friend Angela Fiorelli of Dallas, Texas. Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family on July 6, 2009 from 6-9 PM at Forest Park Lawndale. The Funeral Service will follow the next day and be conducted at 10 AM on July 7, 2009 at Forest Park Lawndale, at 6900 Lawndale Ave. in Houston, Texas. Graveside Services will immediately follow at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery.
Joe Bowman: A finely tooled life
On June 29, the West lost one of its most devoted cowboys—Joe Bowman. Though times had changes and his idols like Roy Rogers had long passed, Bowman—a renowned sharp shooter—never gave up on his love for the Wild West, the cowboy's way of life, and the basic belief that there is a clear divide between good and evil.
Born in Johnson City, Tennessee on April 12, 1925, Bowman took up shooting at age 6 and became a fast fan of westerns starring Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, and others. He and his brother Mark would spend Saturday mornings at the matinee shows, staring in wonder as their idols would take down the bad guys. Bowman once told the Houston Chronicle, "What I remember is the morality of the westerns and of the cowboys. That's all what westerns were: morality plays, where there was good and evil. Now look at the movies and on TV: good can be bad, there's no distinct line. I don't think kids learn from that."
Taking a cue from his big screen idols, Bowman worked to develop his own unique quick-draw techniques. He practiced from the back porch of his house, using his BB gun to shoot flies off of trash cans. At age 12, Bowman's father moved the family to Houston, where Bowman attended Sam Houston High School.
While in Houston, Bowman learned a trade that would later earn him the business of one his favorite cowboys—Roy Rogers himself. Bowman worked as an apprentice at Roy Smith Boots and Palace Boots, learning the art of boot-making. After his Army service in World War II, Bowman returned to Houston and opened the Bowman and DeGeorge Boot Shop. Word spread of Bowman's talent for crafting and finely detailing boots, saddles, belts and holsters, and eventually Roy Rogers enlisted Bowman to make him a pair of boots with red roses on the sides and gold toes and heels.
In the early 1960s, Bowman sold his boot shop and became a salesman for a drafting company. On the side, Bowman began performing shooting stunts at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, along with other conventions. Eventually, Bowman decided to devote himself entirely to his beloved pastime and went on tour across the country as a one-man shooting show. He wore a cowboy hat and tooled-leather boots that he crafted himself. His act included a fast-draw and twirling exhibition, in which he used his re-tooled Ruger .357 Blackhawk, along with card tricks, story-telling, and lassoing. Bowman add new dares and stunts to his routine and ignited his audience with his performance. One of his fellow performers, James Drury, who starred in the 1960s television series The Virginian, said Bowman "could hit an Anacin tablet with a .22 rifle at 30 yards and pulverize it every time." Drury said that in a only a fraction of a second, Bowman could fire three shots at 30 paces through the middle of a 50-cent piece.
Bowman crowned himself the "Master of Triggernometry" and the "Straight Shooter," and his fame earned the attention of several actors in Hollywood who solicited his expertise when preparing for Westerns. Bowman gave lessons to Robert Duvall for his role in Lonesome Dove, as well as James Arness for Gunsmoke. Bowman also taught real-life crime fighters—FBI agents and law enforcement officers—how to handle a gun, including a lesson on "instinct shooting," which Bowman described as relying on the eye and aligning the body correctly instead of taking the time to aim down the gun sight.
Even in the last week of his life, Bowman was still putting on a show. On his way home from a sharpshooting exhibition in Albuquerque, Bowman stopped in the West Texas town of Junction for the night. It would be the last place he hung his hat. At age 84, after a lifetime of bringing excitement into the lives of others and a deep appreciation for the cowboy's way, Joe Bowman passed away.
Just as Captain Woodrow F. Call famously told his lifetime friend Captain Augustus McCrae in Lonesome Dove, we as Texans can also say "You're one of a kind, Joe. We're gonna miss you."
Sugar Land Sun (TX) - Thursday, July 23, 2009
1st wife
Name Betty Jo Moore
Event Type Birth
Event Date 20 Jun 1926
Event Place Harris, Texas
Gender Female
Father's Name Neil Garrett Moore
Mother's Name Lillian Walker
Bowman was inducted posthumously into the Texas Heroes Hall of Honor at the Frontier Times Museum in Bandera "one of the fastest guns alive"
JOE BOWMAN, of Houston, Texas, passed away peacefully on June 29th, 2009 at the age of 84. Joe was a very special man with a multitude of gifts and talent that he chose to share with the world. Joe lived an extremely rich and full life filled with love, laughter, travel and more adventures than most people ever dream of experiencing. He was a man that could imagine, conceptualize and accomplish amazing things with his God given talent. Joe leaves a host of friends and family from around the globe to mourn his passing and celebrate his life. Joe's life was punctuated by great passion for giving, patriotism, love for family, humor and an abundant love for all things "Western". He was a standard bearer for the history and legacy of Texas heritage and took this passion which evolved into his life's work. Joe was born in Johnson City, TN on April 12, 1925. Joe loved the Boy Scouts and attained the rank of Eagle Scout growing up in Houston. He graduated from Sam Houston High School in 1943, attended University of Houston, but was drafted into the US Army in WWII. Joe served in France during the German occupation and during this time he earned 3 Bronze Stars, and a Purple Heart. Joe was seriously injured after taking a land mine hit during combat in 1944, but came back to Houston after the war to start the Bowman/DeGeorge Boot Shop, where his leather crafting began to receive major notice from around the world. One notable customer of Joe's was Roy Rogers, who purchased belts and 2 pairs of extremely ornate Western boots that still reside in Roy & Dale's museum today. Joe was a gunsmith and master craftsman of leather boots, belts, saddles and competition fast draw holsters. Joe's expertise is rarely found on this planet today, but it was his code of honor to deliver commitment to quality. Hence, the evolution of his moniker - "The Straight Shooter"... Joe was also a western gun and fast draw expert, with a resolute passion for the preservation of Western culture and history. His encyclopedic knowledge of these details would amaze his friends. You could tell this man was doing what he loved. Joe was also lucky enough to transition from the boot making business to making a living doing something he loved. Joe started getting attention from Hollywood as a resident expert in Fast Draw, as a holster innovator, master leather craftsman and Texas historian. But most importantly, Joe Bowman loved his family and his friends. Joe's accomplishments are of legend doing shows for royalty, foreign diplomats, astronauts as well as cosmonauts, consultant to Hollywood for his western expertise, coaching Robert Duvall for his role in Lonesome Dove, his close lifelong friendship with Sammy Davis, Jr., and the John Wayne family. Joe was even appointed "Worldwide Ambassador to Texas" by the Governor. Yet Joe knew that fame, accomplishments and the public eye meant nothing ultimately - it was all about heart, humility, spirituality, patriotism and character. And Joe had many, many friends that possess those qualities. Joe is survived by his wife of 17 years, Betty Reid-Bowman, his 2 children, Jan Bowman of Dallas, Texas; Mark Bowman and his wife Charlene, of Austin, Texas. Joe is also survived by his brother, Mark M. Bowman, Jr. of Denver, Colorado and close family friend Angela Fiorelli of Dallas, Texas. Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family on July 6, 2009 from 6-9 PM at Forest Park Lawndale. The Funeral Service will follow the next day and be conducted at 10 AM on July 7, 2009 at Forest Park Lawndale, at 6900 Lawndale Ave. in Houston, Texas. Graveside Services will immediately follow at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery.
Joe Bowman: A finely tooled life
On June 29, the West lost one of its most devoted cowboys—Joe Bowman. Though times had changes and his idols like Roy Rogers had long passed, Bowman—a renowned sharp shooter—never gave up on his love for the Wild West, the cowboy's way of life, and the basic belief that there is a clear divide between good and evil.
Born in Johnson City, Tennessee on April 12, 1925, Bowman took up shooting at age 6 and became a fast fan of westerns starring Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, and others. He and his brother Mark would spend Saturday mornings at the matinee shows, staring in wonder as their idols would take down the bad guys. Bowman once told the Houston Chronicle, "What I remember is the morality of the westerns and of the cowboys. That's all what westerns were: morality plays, where there was good and evil. Now look at the movies and on TV: good can be bad, there's no distinct line. I don't think kids learn from that."
Taking a cue from his big screen idols, Bowman worked to develop his own unique quick-draw techniques. He practiced from the back porch of his house, using his BB gun to shoot flies off of trash cans. At age 12, Bowman's father moved the family to Houston, where Bowman attended Sam Houston High School.
While in Houston, Bowman learned a trade that would later earn him the business of one his favorite cowboys—Roy Rogers himself. Bowman worked as an apprentice at Roy Smith Boots and Palace Boots, learning the art of boot-making. After his Army service in World War II, Bowman returned to Houston and opened the Bowman and DeGeorge Boot Shop. Word spread of Bowman's talent for crafting and finely detailing boots, saddles, belts and holsters, and eventually Roy Rogers enlisted Bowman to make him a pair of boots with red roses on the sides and gold toes and heels.
In the early 1960s, Bowman sold his boot shop and became a salesman for a drafting company. On the side, Bowman began performing shooting stunts at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, along with other conventions. Eventually, Bowman decided to devote himself entirely to his beloved pastime and went on tour across the country as a one-man shooting show. He wore a cowboy hat and tooled-leather boots that he crafted himself. His act included a fast-draw and twirling exhibition, in which he used his re-tooled Ruger .357 Blackhawk, along with card tricks, story-telling, and lassoing. Bowman add new dares and stunts to his routine and ignited his audience with his performance. One of his fellow performers, James Drury, who starred in the 1960s television series The Virginian, said Bowman "could hit an Anacin tablet with a .22 rifle at 30 yards and pulverize it every time." Drury said that in a only a fraction of a second, Bowman could fire three shots at 30 paces through the middle of a 50-cent piece.
Bowman crowned himself the "Master of Triggernometry" and the "Straight Shooter," and his fame earned the attention of several actors in Hollywood who solicited his expertise when preparing for Westerns. Bowman gave lessons to Robert Duvall for his role in Lonesome Dove, as well as James Arness for Gunsmoke. Bowman also taught real-life crime fighters—FBI agents and law enforcement officers—how to handle a gun, including a lesson on "instinct shooting," which Bowman described as relying on the eye and aligning the body correctly instead of taking the time to aim down the gun sight.
Even in the last week of his life, Bowman was still putting on a show. On his way home from a sharpshooting exhibition in Albuquerque, Bowman stopped in the West Texas town of Junction for the night. It would be the last place he hung his hat. At age 84, after a lifetime of bringing excitement into the lives of others and a deep appreciation for the cowboy's way, Joe Bowman passed away.
Just as Captain Woodrow F. Call famously told his lifetime friend Captain Augustus McCrae in Lonesome Dove, we as Texans can also say "You're one of a kind, Joe. We're gonna miss you."
Sugar Land Sun (TX) - Thursday, July 23, 2009
Name Betty Jo Moore
Event Type Birth
Event Date 20 Jun 1926
Event Place Harris, Texas
Gender Female
Father's Name Neil Garrett Moore
Mother's Name Lillian Walker
Bowman was inducted posthumously into the Texas Heroes Hall of Honor at the Frontier Times Museum in Bandera "one of the fastest guns alive"
JOE BOWMAN, of Houston, Texas, passed away peacefully on June 29th, 2009 at the age of 84. Joe was a very special man with a multitude of gifts and talent that he chose to share with the world. Joe lived an extremely rich and full life filled with love, laughter, travel and more adventures than most people ever dream of experiencing. He was a man that could imagine, conceptualize and accomplish amazing things with his God given talent. Joe leaves a host of friends and family from around the globe to mourn his passing and celebrate his life. Joe's life was punctuated by great passion for giving, patriotism, love for family, humor and an abundant love for all things "Western". He was a standard bearer for the history and legacy of Texas heritage and took this passion which evolved into his life's work. Joe was born in Johnson City, TN on April 12, 1925. Joe loved the Boy Scouts and attained the rank of Eagle Scout growing up in Houston. He graduated from Sam Houston High School in 1943, attended University of Houston, but was drafted into the US Army in WWII. Joe served in France during the German occupation and during this time he earned 3 Bronze Stars, and a Purple Heart. Joe was seriously injured after taking a land mine hit during combat in 1944, but came back to Houston after the war to start the Bowman/DeGeorge Boot Shop, where his leather crafting began to receive major notice from around the world. One notable customer of Joe's was Roy Rogers, who purchased belts and 2 pairs of extremely ornate Western boots that still reside in Roy & Dale's museum today. Joe was a gunsmith and master craftsman of leather boots, belts, saddles and competition fast draw holsters. Joe's expertise is rarely found on this planet today, but it was his code of honor to deliver commitment to quality. Hence, the evolution of his moniker - "The Straight Shooter"... Joe was also a western gun and fast draw expert, with a resolute passion for the preservation of Western culture and history. His encyclopedic knowledge of these details would amaze his friends. You could tell this man was doing what he loved. Joe was also lucky enough to transition from the boot making business to making a living doing something he loved. Joe started getting attention from Hollywood as a resident expert in Fast Draw, as a holster innovator, master leather craftsman and Texas historian. But most importantly, Joe Bowman loved his family and his friends. Joe's accomplishments are of legend doing shows for royalty, foreign diplomats, astronauts as well as cosmonauts, consultant to Hollywood for his western expertise, coaching Robert Duvall for his role in Lonesome Dove, his close lifelong friendship with Sammy Davis, Jr., and the John Wayne family. Joe was even appointed "Worldwide Ambassador to Texas" by the Governor. Yet Joe knew that fame, accomplishments and the public eye meant nothing ultimately - it was all about heart, humility, spirituality, patriotism and character. And Joe had many, many friends that possess those qualities. Joe is survived by his wife of 17 years, Betty Reid-Bowman, his 2 children, Jan Bowman of Dallas, Texas; Mark Bowman and his wife Charlene, of Austin, Texas. Joe is also survived by his brother, Mark M. Bowman, Jr. of Denver, Colorado and close family friend Angela Fiorelli of Dallas, Texas. Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family on July 6, 2009 from 6-9 PM at Forest Park Lawndale. The Funeral Service will follow the next day and be conducted at 10 AM on July 7, 2009 at Forest Park Lawndale, at 6900 Lawndale Ave. in Houston, Texas. Graveside Services will immediately follow at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery.
Joe Bowman: A finely tooled life
On June 29, the West lost one of its most devoted cowboys—Joe Bowman. Though times had changes and his idols like Roy Rogers had long passed, Bowman—a renowned sharp shooter—never gave up on his love for the Wild West, the cowboy's way of life, and the basic belief that there is a clear divide between good and evil.
Born in Johnson City, Tennessee on April 12, 1925, Bowman took up shooting at age 6 and became a fast fan of westerns starring Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, and others. He and his brother Mark would spend Saturday mornings at the matinee shows, staring in wonder as their idols would take down the bad guys. Bowman once told the Houston Chronicle, "What I remember is the morality of the westerns and of the cowboys. That's all what westerns were: morality plays, where there was good and evil. Now look at the movies and on TV: good can be bad, there's no distinct line. I don't think kids learn from that."
Taking a cue from his big screen idols, Bowman worked to develop his own unique quick-draw techniques. He practiced from the back porch of his house, using his BB gun to shoot flies off of trash cans. At age 12, Bowman's father moved the family to Houston, where Bowman attended Sam Houston High School.
While in Houston, Bowman learned a trade that would later earn him the business of one his favorite cowboys—Roy Rogers himself. Bowman worked as an apprentice at Roy Smith Boots and Palace Boots, learning the art of boot-making. After his Army service in World War II, Bowman returned to Houston and opened the Bowman and DeGeorge Boot Shop. Word spread of Bowman's talent for crafting and finely detailing boots, saddles, belts and holsters, and eventually Roy Rogers enlisted Bowman to make him a pair of boots with red roses on the sides and gold toes and heels.
In the early 1960s, Bowman sold his boot shop and became a salesman for a drafting company. On the side, Bowman began performing shooting stunts at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, along with other conventions. Eventually, Bowman decided to devote himself entirely to his beloved pastime and went on tour across the country as a one-man shooting show. He wore a cowboy hat and tooled-leather boots that he crafted himself. His act included a fast-draw and twirling exhibition, in which he used his re-tooled Ruger .357 Blackhawk, along with card tricks, story-telling, and lassoing. Bowman add new dares and stunts to his routine and ignited his audience with his performance. One of his fellow performers, James Drury, who starred in the 1960s television series The Virginian, said Bowman "could hit an Anacin tablet with a .22 rifle at 30 yards and pulverize it every time." Drury said that in a only a fraction of a second, Bowman could fire three shots at 30 paces through the middle of a 50-cent piece.
Bowman crowned himself the "Master of Triggernometry" and the "Straight Shooter," and his fame earned the attention of several actors in Hollywood who solicited his expertise when preparing for Westerns. Bowman gave lessons to Robert Duvall for his role in Lonesome Dove, as well as James Arness for Gunsmoke. Bowman also taught real-life crime fighters—FBI agents and law enforcement officers—how to handle a gun, including a lesson on "instinct shooting," which Bowman described as relying on the eye and aligning the body correctly instead of taking the time to aim down the gun sight.
Even in the last week of his life, Bowman was still putting on a show. On his way home from a sharpshooting exhibition in Albuquerque, Bowman stopped in the West Texas town of Junction for the night. It would be the last place he hung his hat. At age 84, after a lifetime of bringing excitement into the lives of others and a deep appreciation for the cowboy's way, Joe Bowman passed away.
Just as Captain Woodrow F. Call famously told his lifetime friend Captain Augustus McCrae in Lonesome Dove, we as Texans can also say "You're one of a kind, Joe. We're gonna miss you."
Sugar Land Sun (TX) - Thursday, July 23, 2009
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