Title
Jemison Oviatt Bowers, 1901 - 1966
Subject
Businessmen
Civic leaders
Description
Jemison Oviatt Bowers (known as J. Oviatt) was born in the Pineywoods community in Tuscaloosa County to Edgar M. Bowers and Mary Letitia Crow Bowers. He attended the old Stafford School and graduated from Tuscaloosa High School. He attended the University of Alabama but left to go to work before getting his degree.
He worked at the Holt Central Foundry where he ran an electric crane but left to join his father in a tire repair business. In 1926 his business was expanded and called the Bowers Tire and Supply Company. He changed in 1935 to a new business buying and salvaging old houses and selling hardware and coal as the J. Oviatt Bowers Company.
Bowers was, however, more than a businessman. He was an active civic leader and devoted member of the First Christian Church of Tuscaloosa. He was very committed to the development of the YMCA serving both locally and in the national organization. He also worked for the Boy Scouts, Tuscaloosa Community Chest (now known as United Way), Tuscaloosa Chamber of Commerce and the development of River Road Park.
He received many awards for his community service - Citizenship Award by the Civitan Club and the Rotary Rose in 1952, the naming of the J. Oviatt Bowers Park, and in 2002 made a member of the Tuscaloosa County Civic Hall of Fame.
He was married to Corinne Wise Bowers and had two sons, Dr. Jemison Oviatt Bowers, Jr. and John Edward Bowers.
Tuscaloosa News, August 20, 1966
He worked at the Holt Central Foundry where he ran an electric crane but left to join his father in a tire repair business. In 1926 his business was expanded and called the Bowers Tire and Supply Company. He changed in 1935 to a new business buying and salvaging old houses and selling hardware and coal as the J. Oviatt Bowers Company.
Bowers was, however, more than a businessman. He was an active civic leader and devoted member of the First Christian Church of Tuscaloosa. He was very committed to the development of the YMCA serving both locally and in the national organization. He also worked for the Boy Scouts, Tuscaloosa Community Chest (now known as United Way), Tuscaloosa Chamber of Commerce and the development of River Road Park.
He received many awards for his community service - Citizenship Award by the Civitan Club and the Rotary Rose in 1952, the naming of the J. Oviatt Bowers Park, and in 2002 made a member of the Tuscaloosa County Civic Hall of Fame.
He was married to Corinne Wise Bowers and had two sons, Dr. Jemison Oviatt Bowers, Jr. and John Edward Bowers.
Tuscaloosa News, August 20, 1966
Source
YMCA
Date
Circa 1954
Contributor
Elizabeth Bradt (Description)
Type
Photograph
Identifier
1018
Coverage
Tuscaloosa (AL)
Original Format
Photograph
Physical Dimensions
7 inches by 9.5 inches