Senior Lifetime Achievement Awards

W. Gordon (M) Bowie

Birth Date: January 13, 1906

Faith Community: Westminster Presbyterian Church, Albany

 Nominator: Joseph Lamprecht, Telephone Pioneers of America

 Early Accomplishments: W. Gordon Bowie was born in Vicksburg, Michigan. His dentist father moved the family to the larger community of Three Rivers, Michigan shortly thereafter. Bill started work with a paper route of 145 daily customers. He played the clarinet in the high school band. Later, he worked summers for Fairbanks-Morse and played in their band, which included paid engagements.

Bill attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, studying in its electrical engineering five-year co-op program, which included work at Bell Telephone Laboratories, Western Electric Company and the New York Telephone Company.

Family : Bill was married in 1931; his wife, Sally, died in 1993.

 Career: Mr. Bowie started his career in 1930, when he joined the New York Telephone Company, first as a lineman in Herkimer. This was followed by a variety of jobs and moves to various locations, including Utica, Oswego and Syracuse. 

During the 1940's he held positions of increasing responsibility, and in 1951 Bill moved to Albany to become head of Transmission Engineering for the upstate New York territory. He later was appointed General Sales Manager, with responsibility for communications for the Airline, Pipeline and Railroad companies.

In 1960, Mr. Bowie was appointed Account Manager, with responsibility for all New York Telephone communications for the State of New York. He retired in 1971, after 40+ years of service.

 Activities in Middle Years: Mr. Bowie was President of the Albany Symphony during its years of growing into a fully professional orchestra and Chairman of the Allocation Committee of the United Fund of Albany. He headed the Council of Community Services and was involved in the start‑up of the Community Foundation.

 Bill also was President of the Upstate Empire Chapter of the Telephone Pioneers of America. For several years he served as a Trustee of Westminster Presbyterian Church.

 Activities in Senior Years: For about 20 years, Mr. Bowie was President and Treasurer of the Historical Society of Minerva, New York.