Mary Lou Bowen

Mary Lou Bowen's first 10 years were spent in Thomas County, KS, in the little town of Rexford, where she was born. Then her family moved to the farm in Atchison County, in NE Kansas, after suffering through "five wheat failures" as the story went. The family operated a Grade A Dairy farm from then on. (As a senior she was named Atchison County's first Dairy Princess.) Her final two elementary grades were completed at Rose Valley, a one room country school to which she and her younger brother often rode horseback in inclement weather. Their horses were stabled in the coal shed for the day. Lunches from home were often heated on the Warm Morning coal stove in the middle of the room.

High school days were at Atchison County Community High School in Effingham, with graduation in 1956. There she studied art and music, her first two loves. As a soloist, she won several Federation of Music competitions and earned a gold medal at Kansas State High School contest. The school music ensembles and duos performed with her 4-year vocal partner entertained often in the community. She and her brother also frequently entertained in the area, accompanied by their mother, a former teacher. Mary Lou played first chair baritone in concert and pep band and loved marching band. She enjoyed her journalism classes and served as editor of the school paper and art editor of the yearbook. She gives credit to her high school journalism instructor for some of the best teaching advice she ever received. It proved beneficial in her teaching career.

She was active in FHA and Kayettes in high school and for many years in 4-H, serving in offices, winning awards in cooking, sewing, demonstrations, public speaking, poultry, and talent shows. She won medals in home economics and livestock judging at the State Fair. With her children in 4-H, she served as a club and project leader, and judged at other county fairs.

Enrolled at Kansas State Teachers College, now Emporia State University, she studied journalism, with emphasis on radio. Since broadcasting discriminated against females at the time, Mary Lou concentrated on the written word. She wrote frequent articles, served as Feature Editor and eventually as Editor of The Bulletin, the college paper, spending 45-60 hours weekly for the huge stipend of $75 monthly. She earned certification to teach literature, creative writing, regular English/grammar, art, psychology, and theatre as well as journalism. In the 39 years that followed, she taught 27 years in Kansas Public Schools (15 at WRHS) and two years for the Kansas Extension Service. While teaching at WRHS, Mary Lou enjoyed terms on the Executive Board of Directors of Kansas Scholastic Press Association, and terms as Vice-President and President. She and co-teacher Roseann Gish frequently gave presentations and judged at the state and national conference levels as they accompanied students to the conferences/competitions. She served as co-sponsor of FCA from its organization until her 1998 retirement.

After retirement, she became active in the Family and Community Education organization, serving as local and county president, and again enjoying presenting lessons and demonstrating crafts ocally and at conferences. Mary Lou became a certified instructor for Community Emergency Response Team training in the county and served as chair of the Atchison County governing committee for the program for many years. During her tenure, the group trained and certified 58 citizens as backup support for first responders. She has served her church as an occasional lay speaker, soloist, secretary, and church school director.

Mary Lou and husband Ron graduated from college in 1959, have been married 63 years, and are parents of five children, Cindy, deceased, Damon, M'Lissa, Andrea, and Heather, and are proud of their 18 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.