William H. Bowen (Arkansas)
William "Bill" H. Bowen was a justice on the Arkansas Supreme Court. He was appointed to the court by Democratic Governor Mike Beebe to serve 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]
Education
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.[2]
Military service
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.[2]
Career
After graduation, Bowen went to work for the U.S. Tax Court and later for the U.S. Department of Justice. In 1954, he joined the law firm Mehaffy, Smith and Williams (now Friday Eldredge & Clark). In 1971, Bowen became the president of the Commercial National Bank and later became 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 the dean of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law and served there for two years.[2] Five years later, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Law was renamed the William H. Bowen School of Law in his honor.[3]
Awards and associations
- Appointed to the Arkansas Industrial Development Commission
- Appointed to the Arkansas Science & Technology Commission[2]
- 2008: Inducted into the University of Arkansas' Arkansas Business Hall of Fame
- 2009:Named one of Arkansas Business "25 Living Legends"[4]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Texarkana Gazette, "Bowen resigns from high court because of health," January 13, 2010
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 University of Arkansas at Little Rock, "William Bowen Biography," accessed March 24, 2015
- ↑ William H. Bowen School of Law Press Release, "Beebe Appoints William H. Bowen To Arkansas Supreme Court"
- ↑ Arkansas Business, "Bill Bowen to Succeed Imber on Arkansas Supreme Court," December 2, 2009
Federal courts:
Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Arkansas, Western District of Arkansas • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Arkansas, Western District of Arkansas
State courts:
Arkansas Supreme Court • Arkansas Court of Appeals • Arkansas Circuit Courts • Arkansas District Courts • Arkansas City Courts
State resources:
Courts in Arkansas • Arkansas judicial elections • Judicial selection in Arkansas
