One of Corning’s most beloved former citizens was honored before 60,000 cheering fans on Dec. 21 at an NFL Arizona Cardinal Football Game as “The Hero of the Game.”
Wilbur “Bucky” Bowen, who had been wheeled to the football field as the announcer read his biography, stood from his wheelchair to receive his salute as his picture was displayed on the Jumbotron.
“Born June 16, 1925, in Van Buren, Missouri, Bucky Bowen is a proud WWII U.S. Army veteran, lifelong public servant, and devoted family man,” said the games announcer.
“You can hear the applause and cheers get louder when it was announced that he was a 100-year-old WWII Veteran,” said his sister-in-law, Liz Cuellar. “He felt honored and humbled.”
Bowen was only 18 when he enlisted in the Army and trained at Ft Benning, Camp Crowder, and the University of Illinois as part of the Army Specialized Training Program in telecommunications. He was deployed to the Pacific Theater, where he served in Dutch New Guinea and later helped rebuild the Philippines’ destroyed telephone system—stationed at Nichols Field near General Douglas MacArthur’s headquarters
“And now today at 100 years-old, we welcome to State Farm Stadium Wilbur Bucky Bowen,” the announcer continued, as the crowd cheered for him and waved American Flags. “Bucky, the Red C salutes you.”
The salute was organized by the team’s organization as well as Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 40.
After his honorable discharge, Bucky launched a 37-year career with Pacific Telephone and Telegraph (now AT&T), retiring as director of labor relations in San Francisco. With his beloved wife Genevieve—celebrating now almost half a century of marriage—raised a blended family of six children, 18 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.
Before they moved to Goodyear, AZ, in 2020, Bowen was well known for his civic involvement within Corning.
From leadership in the Corning Rotary Club to service in organizing and announcing at local veterans’ ceremonies. It was hard to imagine a Veteran’s Day without his dignified presence announcing the program. His civic legacy is extraordinary.
He has also received Senior of the Year and Veterans Day honors in Missouri and Arizona.
“Congratulations,” said good friend Dean Cofer, Sr. of Corning. “You are missed.”