William H. Bowen

From Judgepedia

William "Bill" H. Bowen (May 6, 1923) was a justice on the Supreme Court of Arkansas. He was appointed by Democratic Governor Mike Beebe to fill out a portion of Annabelle Clinton Imber's term after she retired. Bowen took his seat on January 1, 2010 and stepped down the following week, citing poor health. ^[1]

A special election will be held in 2010 to elect a judge to fill the remainder of Imber's term, which expires in 2014. ^[2][3]

Education

Bowen joined the Naval Air Corps in 1942 and is a veteran of World War II. He retired from the Navy in 1946, and joined the U.S. Naval Reserve, eventually retiring as a lieutenant commander in 1963. Bowen attended the Arkansas School of Law and received his bachelor of laws degree in 1949. He earned his Master of Laws degree in taxation from New York University in 1950. ^[4]

Professional career

After graduation, Bowen went to work for the U.S. Tax Court and later for the U.S. Department of Justice. In 1954 Bowen joined the law firm Mehaffy, Smith and Williams, later Smith, Williams, Friday and Bowen, (now Friday Eldredge & Clark). In 1971, Bowen became President of the Commercial National Bank, later becoming its Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. Commercial National Bank and First National Bank later merged to create First Commercial, and Bowen continued to serve as Chairman and CEO until he retired in 1991. He remained on the Board of Directors of First Commercial until 1998. From 1991 to 1992, Bowen served as chief of staff during Bill Clinton’s campaign for the presidency. In 1995, he became Dean of the UALR School of Law and served there for two years. ^[4] Five years later, the UALR School of Law was renamed the William H. Bowen School of Law in his honor. ^[5]

Awards and associations

• Appointed to the Arkansas Industrial Development Commission
• Appointed to the Arkansas Science & Technology Commission ^[4]
• Inducted into the University of Arkansas' Arkansas Business Hall of Fame in 2008
• One of Arkansas Business "25 Living Legends" in 2009 ^[6]

Personal

Bowen is married with three children and 12 grandchildren. ^[4]

References

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