Otis R. Bowen

Otis Ray Bowen
16th United States Secretary of Health and Human Services
In office December 13, 1985 – January 20, 1989
President	Ronald Reagan
Preceded by	Margaret Heckler
Succeeded by	Louis Wade Sullivan
44th Governor of Indiana
In office January 8, 1973 – January 12, 1981
Lieutenant	Robert D. Orr
Preceded by	Edgar D. Whitcomb
Succeeded by	Robert D. Orr
Personal details
Born	February 26, 1918 (1918-02-26) (age 93) Fulton County, Indiana
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Carol Hahn Bowen
Children	4
Alma mater	Indiana University
Profession	Physician
Religion	Lutheran
Military service
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1943-1946

Otis Ray Bowen, M.D. (born February 26, 1918) is a retired U.S. politician and physician. He served as the 44th Governor of Indiana from 1973 to 1981 and as Secretary of Health and Human Services from 1985 to 1989.

Early life

Bowen was born near Rochester, Indiana, to Vernie Bowen and Pearl Irene Wright. His father’s side of the family was deeply religious and originally came from Ohio. Vernie graduated from Valparaiso University and was a teacher for 43 years. Vernie also owned a hardware store in Leiters Ford, was a trustee for Aubbeenaubbee Township, President of the Woodlawn Hospital Board of Trustees, and President of the Leiters Ford Merchants Association. He is a Scottish Rite Freemason and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In 1915, Vernie married Pearl Irene Wright, whose family was also from Ohio and involved with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Otis Bowen is a distant relative of George W. Bush through two brothers who immigrated to New England from Somerset, England.

He received his elementary and high school education from local schools and went on to graduate from Indiana University with an A.B. in 1939 and M.D. in 1942. He holds 30 honorary degrees including those from schools in his home state such as Indiana University, the University of Notre Dame, Ball State University, Valparaiso University, and Anderson University. In addition to an honorary degree, Bethel College also named their campus library in his honor.

He married Elizabeth Anne Steinmann in 1939, who died shortly before his term as Indiana Governor expired in 1981. They had four children; Rick, Judy, Tim, and Rob. Following her death, he married Rose May Hochstetler in September 1981. In 1991, Rose died. In 1992, he married his current wife, Carol.

Career

Otis Bowen began his career on an internship from Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana, in 1942. From 1943 to 1946 he served in the Medical Corps of the United States Army, rising from the rank of 1st lieutenant to captain. On his return from World War II, he set up his own medical practice in his home town of Bremen, Indiana, which he discontinued in 1972. During this time, he also was a member of staff for various hospitals in Indiana and served as coroner for Marshall County, Indiana. In 1981 he took up the post of clinical professor of family medicine at Indiana University.

During his medical and teaching career, Dr. Bowen also got into Republican Party politics, serving as a member of the Indiana House of Representatives from 1956 to 1958 and again from 1960 to 1972. He was speaker of the house from 1967 to 1972, Vice Chairman of the legislative council from 1967 to 1968, and Chairman until 1972. After his unsuccessful attempt in 1968, he was elected Governor of Indiana in 1972 and was re-elected for a second term in 1976, making him the first Governor to serve for eight consecutive years in Indiana since 1851. His campaign slogan, featured in huge letters on billboards, was "Otis Bowen. He Hears You". As Governor he initiated a tax restructuring, and developed a state-wide emergency medical services system. From 1978 to 1985, he also served on the board of trustees for Valparaiso University. Simultaneously, Dr. Bowen served as chairman of the Republican Governors Association, and the Midwestern Governors Association, and the National Governors Association. In 1980, he served as President of the Council of State Governments.

Dr. Bowen continued teaching at Indiana University until he was appointed by President Reagan as Secretary of Health and Human Services and confirmed by the US Senate on a vote of 93 to 2, making him the first medical doctor to serve in this position. It is said that as Secretary he always had a prescription pad handy, recommending remedies to treat minor ailments for both colleagues and members of the press. He served this position until 1989, when he retired to his home in Bremen, Indiana. He is the oldest living former member of President Reagan's Cabinet.

Community involvement

Bowen at a community event in 2007

Dr. Bowen has served on a number of committees and conferences, including the Education Commission of the States, and the President's Commission on Federalism. He was the chairman of the Paperwork Commission, Nursing Study Commission, and Medicare Study Commission. He has also received various awards, including the George F. Hixson award from Kiwanis International. Otis Bowen is a Lutheran and member of the American Medical Association, the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Alpha Omega Alpha, Phi Beta Pi, Delta Chi, and Kiwanis.

The Bowen Institute on Political Participation was founded by Ball State University in honor of Dr. Bowen. He attends every year and provides a congratulatory address to the graduates of this two-day seminar.

See also

Indiana portal

• List of Governors of Indiana

References

• Protect the Truth commission biography
• Indiana Historical Bureau
• Doc: Memories from a Life in Public Service, by Otis R. Bowen, M.D. with William Du Bois, Jr. ; Published in 2000

This article contains content from Hierarchypedia article Otis R. Bowen, used here under the GNU Free Documentation License.

External links

• Biography at Indiana Governor's office

Political offices
Preceded by Edgar D. Whitcomb	Governor of Indiana 1973–1981	Succeeded by Robert D. Orr
Preceded by Margaret Heckler	U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services 1985–1989	Succeeded by Louis W. Sullivan

Persondata
Name	Bowen, Otis R.
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	February 26, 1918
Place of birth	Fulton County, Indiana
Date of death
Place of death