Jay Bowerman
Encyclopedia
Jay Bowerman was an American politician, a Republican
, who served most notably as the 13th Governor of Oregon
.
, the son of Daniel and Lydia (Battey) Bowerman. His siblings were named Ralph, Martha and Mary.
He received his early education in public schools of Hesper, then moved to Salem, Oregon
, in 1893. He entered Willamette University
that same year and graduated with a law degree
in 1896. He was admitted to the Oregon Bar the following year, practicing law in Salem
until 1899. He then moved to Condon
, in Gilliam County, Oregon
, where he lived for the next 12 years. There he became a law partner of H. H. Henricks. Bowerman's service in the Spanish-American War
briefly interrupted his practice of the law.
became a well-known track and field coach at the University of Oregon, as well as coach of several U.S. Olympic teams, and co-founder of Nike, Inc.
However, from an early age, he was estranged from his father.
Jay and Elizabeth Bowerman eventually divorced, and Jay Bowerman married Wayfe Hockett in 1914. This marriage produced two further children, Sally and Jayne.
from Gilliam County in 1904 and was reelected four years later. He served as president of that body from 1909 to 1911. When Governor Frank W. Benson
was incapacitated by ill health in June 1910, he asked Bowerman, as president of the Senate, to assume gubernatorial responsibilities. On June 16, 1910, at age thirty-three, Bowerman became Acting Governor.
Mindful of bureaucratic economy, Bowerman advocated establishment of a Board of Control to administer the state institutions, which would permit fiscal savings by combined purchasing for state institutions through the office of a single purchasing agent. However, the Board of Control was not established until the administration of his successor. He acted to reduce the risk of loss through bank failure by prohibiting Oregon bankers from the use of speculative stock as assets if they had actively promoted that stock. In 1904 the citizens of Oregon adopted a direct primary law prohibiting party nominating conventions. But establishment Republicans, unwilling to relinquish party control over nominations, held an "assembly" in 1910 at which they nominated Bowerman as their candidate for governor.
Bowerman's Democratic gubernatorial rival, Oswald West
, cast him as an opponent of the Oregon System of direct government. Bowerman campaigned on a platform supporting modernized highway systems, increased economies in the administration of government, and continued tight control of state land management. Bowerman was also involved in a sex scandal, having an affair with his secretary. West defeated him 54,853 votes to 48,751.
, where he resumed the practice of law. He was reelected president of the State Senate but retired following the 1911 session. As a private citizen he actively supported Oregon's first statewide bond issue for highway construction, a $6,000,000 proposal. He also served as an active lobbyist for years at the State Legislature
. He died in Portland in 1957.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, who served most notably as the 13th Governor of Oregon
Governor of Oregon
The Governor of Oregon is the top executive of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon. The title of governor was also applied to the office of Oregon's chief executive during the provisional and U.S. territorial governments....
.
Early life
Bowerman was born in Hesper, IowaIowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, the son of Daniel and Lydia (Battey) Bowerman. His siblings were named Ralph, Martha and Mary.
He received his early education in public schools of Hesper, then moved to Salem, Oregon
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
, in 1893. He entered Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
that same year and graduated with a law degree
Willamette University College of Law
Willamette University College of Law is a private law school located in Salem, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1842, Willamette University is the oldest university in the Western United States...
in 1896. He was admitted to the Oregon Bar the following year, practicing law in Salem
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
until 1899. He then moved to Condon
Condon, Oregon
Condon is a city in Gilliam County, Oregon, United States. The population was 759 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Gilliam County. It is located on Oregon Route 19....
, in Gilliam County, Oregon
Gilliam County, Oregon
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,915 people, 819 households, and 543 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile . There were 1,043 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile...
, where he lived for the next 12 years. There he became a law partner of H. H. Henricks. Bowerman's service in the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
briefly interrupted his practice of the law.
Personal life
He married Elizabeth Hoover in 1903 and together they had four children: twins, Thomas and William (Bill), Daniel and Elizabeth. Bill BowermanBill Bowerman
William Jay "Bill" Bowerman was an American track and field coach and co-founder of Nike, Inc. Over his career, he trained 31 Olympic athletes, 51 All-Americans, 12 American record-holders, 24 NCAA champions and 16 sub-4 minute milers...
became a well-known track and field coach at the University of Oregon, as well as coach of several U.S. Olympic teams, and co-founder of Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
However, from an early age, he was estranged from his father.
Jay and Elizabeth Bowerman eventually divorced, and Jay Bowerman married Wayfe Hockett in 1914. This marriage produced two further children, Sally and Jayne.
Political career
He was elected to the Oregon State SenateOregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
from Gilliam County in 1904 and was reelected four years later. He served as president of that body from 1909 to 1911. When Governor Frank W. Benson
Frank W. Benson (Oregon Governor)
Frank W. Benson was an American politician, a Republican, and the 12th Governor of Oregon from 1909 to 1910. A native of California, Benson also served as educator, a land office clerk, and was twice elected as Oregon Secretary of State...
was incapacitated by ill health in June 1910, he asked Bowerman, as president of the Senate, to assume gubernatorial responsibilities. On June 16, 1910, at age thirty-three, Bowerman became Acting Governor.
Mindful of bureaucratic economy, Bowerman advocated establishment of a Board of Control to administer the state institutions, which would permit fiscal savings by combined purchasing for state institutions through the office of a single purchasing agent. However, the Board of Control was not established until the administration of his successor. He acted to reduce the risk of loss through bank failure by prohibiting Oregon bankers from the use of speculative stock as assets if they had actively promoted that stock. In 1904 the citizens of Oregon adopted a direct primary law prohibiting party nominating conventions. But establishment Republicans, unwilling to relinquish party control over nominations, held an "assembly" in 1910 at which they nominated Bowerman as their candidate for governor.
Bowerman's Democratic gubernatorial rival, Oswald West
Oswald West
Oswald West was an American politician, a Democrat, who served most notably as the 14th Governor of Oregon. Called "Os West" by Oregon writer Stewart Holbrook, who described him as "by all odds the most brilliant governor Oregon ever had."- Early life and career :West was born in Ontario, Canada...
, cast him as an opponent of the Oregon System of direct government. Bowerman campaigned on a platform supporting modernized highway systems, increased economies in the administration of government, and continued tight control of state land management. Bowerman was also involved in a sex scandal, having an affair with his secretary. West defeated him 54,853 votes to 48,751.
Later life
After leaving the office of governor on January 8, 1911, Bowerman moved to PortlandPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, where he resumed the practice of law. He was reelected president of the State Senate but retired following the 1911 session. As a private citizen he actively supported Oregon's first statewide bond issue for highway construction, a $6,000,000 proposal. He also served as an active lobbyist for years at the State Legislature
Oregon Legislative Assembly
The Oregon Legislative Assembly is the state legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. The Legislative Assembly is bicameral, consisting of an upper and lower house: the Senate, whose 30 members are elected to serve four-year terms; and the House of Representatives, with 60 members elected to...
. He died in Portland in 1957.
External links
- Acting Governor's Message, Oregon Messages and Documents, 1909–1910, Acting Governor's Regular Session Message, Salem, Oregon, Willis S. Duniway, State Printer, 1911.