James Isaac Bowman

jimbrady.jpg (22262 bytes)

James on Right with Brady Cameron on left .  I believe it is Brady's house on Brush Creek Ridge.  In the background was Brady's 1957 Ford.  Photo was taken around 1961 or 62.  A few years later Brady was killed in a motorcycle accident near Indianapolis Indiana.

James was the real product of the time.  He was a baby boomer that was subjected to a radically different environment.  Capitalism was dominating the culture by this time and he, far more than me, wanted to be a part of the culture.  Even though I tried to be normal and actually did want in a small degree what everyone else wanted, at the time, I was still able to get lost in my thoughts and be unconcerned with normal day to day living.  There is no culture that allows this self introspection for very long.  I was soon and frequently jolted out of my thoughts just to deal with the reality of survival.
imodeb.jpg (18184 bytes)

James and Imogene had their first child Debbie in the 60's.   They had one more Denise.

jimimog.jpg (18476 bytes)

James and Imogene with James's Chevy about 1963.

jimsherf.jpg (35343 bytes) jimmug.jpg (60562 bytes)

There seems somehow to be some irony here.  James ran for sheriff of Rockcastle County in 1981 and in 1999 he was robbing banks.  He had developed emphysema from his construction job of pouring concrete for bridges and was forced to retire nine years after he ran for sheriff.   He had less than 30 percent of his lung capacity and was unable to walk more than twenty feet without stopping to rest.  He told me that to rob the banks he had to park his car right in front so he would have enough breath to get back to the car after the robbery.  Another irony here is that he borrowed money from his relatives and friends to play the Kentucky Lottery.  He was robbing the banks to repay the debt to his family and friends.  He is currently awaiting sentence for armed robbery.

James was the second of our family to suffer from Industrial pollution brought on by Capitalism.  Mom's dad Grandpa Jordan died early in the century from limestone quarry dust.

To be Continued.........

RETURN TO INDEX PAGE