"Doc" Bowl Dies
Dartmouth Athletic Leader for 34 Years Was Father of College's Present Physical Education Program
THE TRIM, clear-eyed man to whom thousands of Dartmouth graduates owe the solid basis for their physical well-being and their standards of sportsmanship passed from the active life of the College on December 27 when Dr. John W. Bowler, emeritus professor of hygiene and physical education, succumbed to bronchial pneumonia after a brief and sudden illness of four days. More than any other individual, "Doc" Bowler during the 37 years of his association with the College was responsible for charting the course and creating the gentlemanly character of the modern era of Dartmouth athletics.
When he first came to Hanover in 1901, after absorbing the doctrines of the famous Dr. Sargent of Harvard, he found scant knowledge of physical culture among the robust youth of the north country and even scantier facilities for the carrying out of any sort of plan. But within 24 hours of his arrival he had launched Dartmouth upon its present athletic and physical-education program with a lecture on training rules, and for the next 34 years until his retirement in 1935 he remained the central figure in that program which is now reflected in Dartmouth's superbly coached and trained teams, in Alumni Gymnasium and the other athletic equipment of the College, and in the all-embracing physical education curriculum.
BEGAN CAREER IN BOSTON
Dr. Bowler was born in Watertown, Mass., on February 25, 1865, and there received his early schooling. He himself was an all-round athlete, excelling in track and gymnastics, and it was as track coach for the Boston Park Department that he began his prominence in the sports world. In the old Charles Street stadium Dr. Bowler developed a score of outstanding track stars, among them Arthur Duffey, the first man to run the 100-yard dash in QVS seconds; Bernie Weafers, double winner in the 100- and 200-yard events in a dual meet between the United States and England; and Andy Coakley, present track coach at Cornell. He then joined the staff at Harvard as assistant gymnast, and in 1901 moved to Hanover to begin the career which was to have such influence on the athletic life of the College.
During the early years at Dartmouth "Doc" Bowler coached the track, gym and swimming teams, and also served as trainer of the football team. While filling the many-sided role of instructor in physical culture and director of the gymnasium he still found time to take the four-year course in the Dartmouth Medical School, and in 1906 received his M.D. degree. The year before that he had been elevated to the post of assistant professor, which he filled until the rank of full professor became his in 1907. Three years later, in 1910, the College honored him with the degree of Master of Arts.
As the athletic program grew under his guidance, Dr. Bowler saw the necessity of adding to the coaching staff. Harry Hillman, now starting his 30th season as Dartmouth track coach, was brought to Hanover; and others who followed him during the early years were Jeff Tesreau, Sid Hazelton, and Pat Kaney. The College gym was another problem at that time. Bissell Hall, now housing the Thayer School of Civil Engineering, had its limitations as a gym, so the energetic "Doc" set out to get a new and bigger one that would prove adequate for many years to come. He drew up plans for Alumni Gymnasium, then the marvel of the athletic world, and led the drive among Dartmouth alumni for the funds which enabled the College to erect the present gym in 1909-10.
Meanwhile Dr. Bowler had the physical well-being of the entire undergraduate college as his larger objective, and through lectures, physical fitness classes, and special corrective courses he came into contact with every Dartmouth freshman for a period of some thirty years. Around such an übiquitous figure there naturally sprang up legends. His Ten Laws of physical health became a campus by-word, and "Doc Bowler's smut class," as the students referred to his compulsory freshman course on hygiene, was made part of the popular Dartmouth song, Where, Oh Where, Arethe Pea-Green Freshmen? Two of the most popular legends dealt with the manner in which Dr. Bowler corrected the examination papers of the freshman hygiene course, one version claiming that he threw the papers upstairs and gave the highest grades to those which went the farthest, and the other claiming that he tossed the papers into the swimming pool and gave the highest grades to those that sank first.
BOWLER DAY CELEBRATED
For 34 years Dr. Bowler served as central figure and guiding spirit of Dartmouth's modern athletic and physical education program, until in 1935 he approached the retirement age of 70. On May 4 of that year Bowler Day was celebrated, featuring the Dartmouth-Yale baseball game and the Dartmouth-Army track meet, and was climaxed by a testimonial dinner in the evening. Prof. Charles E. Bolser '97, who had served on the Athletic Council for many years, was toastmaster at the dinner and introduced as speakers of the evening President Hopkins, Lewis Parkhurst '78, Dean Craven Laycock '97, Prof. James P. Richardson '99, Dr. Frederick W. Maroney of Columbia University, and Hugh McGrath, prominent track official of Boston. Dr. Bowler retired at the end of the college year, and in 1936 the Board of Trustees voted him the rank of Emeritus Professor of Hygiene and Physical Education, which he held at the time of his death.
Dr. Bowler's first marriage in 1891 was to Miss Ellen Pollard, who died in 1921. Of this union were born three sons: Edmund W. Bowler '14 of West Springfield, Mass.; Dr. John P. Bowler '15 of Hanover, dean of the Dartmouth Medical School; and Richard Bowler '22 of Marblehead, Mass. Dr. Bowler's second marriage took place in 1932 to Mrs. Mary Duffy Leonard of Brookline, Mass., who survives with Dr. Bowler's three sons.
Funeral services were held on December 29 in St. Denis Catholic Church, with Father John W. Sliney officiating. The bearers were Harry L. Hillman, Patrick J. Kaney, Archie B. Gile '17, Dr. John J. Boardman, Prof. Fletcher Low '15, and William H. Brock. Honorary bearers were Lewis Parkhurst '78, Fred A. Howland '87, Dean Craven Laycock '97, Dr. John F. Gile '16, Dean E. Gordon Bill, Hugh McGrath, Dr. Elmer H. Carleton '97m, Prof. James P. Richardson '99, James G. Driscoll '09, and Harold P. Hinman '10.
Dr. Bowler's death was the occasion for tributes from many persons prominent in Dartmouth life. Lewis Parkhurst, senior trustee of the College and a long-time friend of the late professor, declared:
"In the passing of Dr. Bowler, I lost an old and very dear friend, and the College, one of its most faithful and energetic instructors.
"The careful attention now given to the health of our students (in which we all take pride) is due in no small degree to the instruction of Dr. Bowler, who for many years constantly emphasized the importance of a sound body, as well as a trained mind, if a man was to do his best in life.
"As an all-round athlete and trainer of athletes, he had few equals. To his vision and energy the College is largely indebted for our Gymnasium and athletic equipment.
"I was for two seasons a member of his classes in Health Culture at Marlboro, Massachusetts, and profited much from his teaching.
"A faithful friend and good citizen!"
Prof. Charles E. Bolser '97, who served as faculty member of the Athletic Council during the first half of Dr. Bowler's long career at Dartmouth, paid tribute to both the accomplishments and the character of the former physical director:
"Dr. John W. Bowler was a self-made man whose self making was but incidental to the fulfillment of a life purpose. Well established in a lucrative metropolitan center, with an enviable reputation won, he had the courage to sacrifice brilliant prospects to become track coach at Dartmouth. This he did because he realized the necessity of more training to fit him for pioneer work in the development of the science of physical education. Resuming his schooling, after a long interval, he overcame by industry and persistence, obstacles that would have floored most individuals, won the degree of Doctor of Medicine and eventually became Professor of Hygiene and Physical Education in the College.
"Although his contributions in various capacities to the success of our teams, and his meticulous supervision of the physical fitness of athletes constitute outstanding service, he should be remembered primarily as the founder of our Department of Physical Education. His vision conceived the idea of Alumni Gymnasium, his initiative and enthusiasm sparked and sustained the drive to erect it, his fundamental planning assured a structure adequate and modern through over a quarter of a century with some features still unique. His work was the organization of a department to use this plant for the furtherance of the physical upbuilding of Dartmouth students, a highly important complement to their mental training.
"He was a dignified, high principled gentleman, an upright, positive character to match a vigorous, graceful physique, and above all, to the limit of his endowment, a model for his charges. In the midst of friends and well-wishers he enjoyed the years of his retirement as Professor Emeritus, and watched with great satisfaction the continuance and expansion of his life work by colleagues who respected and honored him."
Harry Hillman, Dartmouth track coach who worked with Dr. Bowler for three decades, also paid tribute to his great contributions in the field of physical training:
"Dr. Bowler gave the greater part of his life to the building up of the health and physical training of the undergraduates of Dartmouth College. Having worked side by side with Dr. Bowler for the greater part of twenty-five years I always found him to be a loyal friend and a great help to the younger coaches. He was always willing to advise and assist any one connected with athletics or physical training.
"Dr. Bowler was one of the pioneers in physical training in the country and many ideas developed by him were universally accepted. He came to Dartmouth at the time physical training was in its infancy and established and developed this department.
"In his passing we all lost a dear friend."
DR. JOHN W. BOWLER, 1865-1938
"Doc" BOWLER IN 1908 The trim physical director and footballtrainer as he appeared during the earlyperiod of his work at Dartmouth.
