Bowman, Will W. (Will Wattis), 1901-1974

Utah journalist and publicity director of Utah Power and Light Company.

From the description of Will W. Bowman papers, 1916-1973. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 367407680

Will W. Bowman (1901-1974) was a newspaper editor and the Publicity Director of the Utah Power and Light Company.

From the description of Will W. Bowman photographs and postcards, circa 1920s-1970s. (Brigham Young University). WorldCat record id: 137729942

Will W. Bowman (1901-1974) was a Utah journalist and publicity director of Utah Power and Light Company.

Will Wattis Bowman, the son of Archie Bowman and Eunice Wattis, was born on August 23, 1901 in Ogden, Utah. He received his early schooling in the public schools of Ogden and graduated from Ogden City High School in 1919, having completed a major in English. Later that year he entered Utah Agricultural College from which he graduated in 1923. During his years at U.A.C. he was active in sports and played on the football team. Bowman also became a Reserve Officer in the U.S. Army and a member of the Scabbard and Blade Fraternity.

Soon after graduating from Utah Agricultural College he began his journalistic career by becoming a correspondent in Logan, Utah for the Salt Lake Tribune. In October of 1923 Will Bowman became assistant sports editor of the Salt Lake Telegram. He remained interested in sports throughout his life as evidenced by the number of sports clippings he collected. About six months later he left the Telegram for a position as a reporter with the Ogden.

In 1926 he left to finish his education at the Columbia University School of Journalism from which he graduated in 1927. During the year he lived in New York, Mr. Bowman worked for the New York World and the Real Estate Daily News.

Upon returning to Ogden in 1927, Will Bowman became a reporter again for the Standard-Examiner. It was during this time that he covered police stories and wrote newspaper articles of their activities. He advanced to city editor and then managing editor which position he left in 1937 to become the managing editor of the Salt Lake Telegram. On July 19, 1938 he changed positions again and became the managing editor of the Salt Lake Tribune.

Bowman left the Tribune in 1941 to become the publicity director of Utah Power and Light. In 1953 his position was enlarged to publicity and advertising director. He held this position until 1968 when he retired.

Following his retirement, Bowman served as the volunteer editor of the newsletter of the Utah Division of Aging. He also served on the News Advisory Board of KCPX as the senior citizen representative.

On October 16, 1974 Will W. Bowman died of a heart attack in Salt Lake City leaving his wife, Hazel Mills Bowman, and a son, Anthony Will Bowman.

From the guide to the Will W. Bowman papers, 1916-1973, (L. Tom Perry Special Collections)