Woods Bowman
Tuesday, Jul 14, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Woody Bowman was one of the smartest legislators I’ve ever met…
He received a dual degree in physics and economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1963. He received a masters of public administration and a Ph.D. in economics from Syracuse University in the late 1960s.
He then came to Chicago, working as a research economist for the Federal Reserve Bank then teaching economics at the University of Illinois at Chicago through the 1970s.
In 1976, Bowman was elected to the Illinois House. He held his seat until 1990 and headed the House Appropriations Committee for seven years. Bowman was Cook County’s chief financial officer from 1991 to 1994.
Woods was a wonk, but he was also a soft-spoken, gentle human being. And he spoke in terms that ordinary people could understand. You listened to him not because he commanded it or because he bragged about his education and experience, but because he was so bright and interesting and innovative. He was truly an exemplary public servant - the kind we need so much more of, but the sort of modest person who never gets a statue or plaque erected on his behalf.
* Years ago, Woody’s wife Michele called me and said she wanted to give her a husband a special present - his very own subscription to my newsletter. It was one of the nicest compliments ever paid to me because I figured if a smart guy like Woods wanted a subscription, I must be doing something right in this world.
* More on Woody from Greg Hinz…
Bowman, a liberal Democrat, came out of the 49th Ward, one of a group of reformers that included Ald. David Orr. They challenged the latter days of the rule of Mayor Richard J. Daley and his successor, Michael Bilandic.
“Woody was unique among candidates, and then, among politicians. He was extraordinary not just because he was so smart and decent, but because didn’t want anything for himself,” said Orr. “…I’m so glad that he and Michelle found each other and had a wonderful life together.”
Bowman spent more than a decade in Springfield, serving as chairman of one of the two appropriations committees, before running for state comptroller against another reformer, Dawn Clark Netsch. He lost but became budget director during the tenure of Richard Phelan as Cook County Board president. Bowman became a professor in the School of Public Service at DePaul University before retiring a couple of years ago.
I always found Bowman not only smart in both an academic and worldly sense, but as honest as they come.
“He served with great distinction,” said Steve Brown, spokesman for Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. “He brought a lot of common sense” to Springfield’s budget battles.
* All my best to Michele…
The accident also seriously injured his wife, Michele M. Thompson, a former secretary to the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. Michigan State Police say a 51-year-old California truck driver started the chain-reaction crash, and that he may have been distracted by firefighters in the median who were battling a brushfire. […]
He was driving his Cadillac near the Mattawan exit on I-94, between Paw Paw and Kalamazoo, when it was rear-ended by the semi-truck. That driver, who is considered at fault, was also hospitalized for his injuries, Michigan State Police Sgt. Matthew Waters said.
Mr. Bowman’s Cadillac was pushed into another car, and then the semi hit another truck, Waters said. Mr. Bowman was pronounced dead at Bronson Methodist Hospital In Kalamazoo.
Initially, his wife was hospitalized in intensive care but she was later able to telephone DePaul, and she is scheduled to return to Illinois Tuesday via ambulance, said Robert Stokes, director of DePaul’s School of Public Service. The couple lived downtown. […]
At the time of the accident, they were driving to an exhibit at the Detroit Institute of Arts, a destination he treasured because its survival had once been threatened by that city’s bankruptcy, Stokes said. “He never got there,” he said.
- Wordslinger - Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 9:16 am:
I was floored when I saw this yesterday. What an awful tragedy.
Woody was a true brainiac, but he put his knowledge and skills to very practical purposes in a pragmatic way to impact people’s lives positively.
An idealist, but not an ideologue, a true public servant and just one of the all-around good guys.
- Not quite a majority - Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 9:20 am:
It hurts to lose such a treasure. I remember so well the way Rep Bowman handled the Approp Committee, how he advocated for sensible budgeting (that alone should get him a statute somewhere in the Rotunda!). But more than that, he was always approachable, always willing to answer questions, always willing to listen. God bless, sir. Rest in peace.
- Linus - Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 9:31 am:
It’s very sad how often we’ve had to say goodbye to “the good guys/gals” of late, from both parties (see: JBT, Rosemary M) - policymakers who didn’t come from cookie-cutters, and who could think and lead independently. It increasingly feels like the passing of an era, but I hope I’m wrong.
Woody was truly one of the good ones.
- Res Melius - Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 9:53 am:
What a tragedy. While I did not know Woody, I had the immense pleasure to work with Michele on a committee at the U of I. She is a class act and the very definition of professionalism. She is in my prayers.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 10:00 am:
Woody was another class act. I had a lot of respect for him on our dealings.
- Norseman - Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 10:00 am:
RIP Woody
- Jeff Schoenberg - Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 10:06 am:
Woody was insightful, principled and pragmatic with a wonderfully wry sense of humor. His strong sense of values never eluded him throughout his public career. I learned so much just from watching him serve as a guardian angel to those most vulnerable both @ the Capitol and in our community. My heart aches for Michele.
- Amalia - Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 10:34 am:
deepest condolences to Michele. Woody was smart, thoughtful, and contributed to the dialogue on policy in a way that is happening less and less from elected officials. We’ve lost Dawn and Woody in the space of a pretty short time. the loss of a smart approach to fiscal policy feels even greater in these times of thin solutions.
- RWP - Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 10:40 am:
Woody was one of the “good guys” from when he first was elected to the GA. He was always the one pointing out how any action taken would affect people (usually the people who are thought about last). He was always a gentleman. My thoughts and condolences to his wife and family
RWP
- scott aster - Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 10:50 am:
Great Rep……..too bad he wasn’t elected comp because he would have gotten something done….not run for gov. Prayers for Michelle….a great ILLINI asset.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 10:53 am:
Like others have said, Woody was a class act and great guy. RIP.
- Formerly Known As... - Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 10:58 am:
A good example for us to look up to.
Especially now.
- Peter Coffey - Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 11:12 am:
===It increasingly feels like the passing of an era, but I hope I’m wrong.===
Woody spent the last years of his career training a new generation of public servants at DePaul. I was fortunate to have him as my grad school academic advisor, so I know first-hand the difference he made on so many students who’ve gone on to careers in public service.
Thanks for posting this Rich. It’s a nice tribute to a very good man. He made a difference and he will be greatly missed.
His legacy will be, in large part, the skills, the experience, the knowledge, the wisdom and the character he instilled in so many of his students. I can’t think of a better way to leave this earth than knowing you helped prepare the next generation so well.
I first met him in 1990 and had the opportunity to work with him in Board President Phelan’s administration. I hope his students knew how fortunate they were to have him as their professor. I know I did.
May he rest in peace and may God heal and comfort Michelle.
- Draznnl - Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 11:57 am:
I had the great privilege of serving as a legislative intern to Woody in 1979. Not only did I learn from him about the legislative process and Illinois government, but much more important lessons in what it meant to serve your constituents and keep them first in your priorities. To know Woody was to admire and respect him not because he demanded it, but because he carried himself as if there was no reason anyone should. He was too humble too act otherwise. My thoughts go out to Michele as she recovers from her injuries.
- ANON - Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 12:37 pm:
All of the young people in the academic community loved Woods, he was helpful, honest, and kind. So many have expressed their disappointment about not having the pleasure of his company or the wisdom of his advice again. Condolences to all of those who are close to him. A tremendous loss in so many ways.
- Mike Kreloff - Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 1:34 pm:
So many Bowmanites have expressed their love and respect for Woody here, in Fb, etc., so I don’t have much to add. Reflecting upon a 40+ year friendship and alliance, I think the CapFax community, regardless of varying political views, understands this was a life well lived, many great times, some sad losses, but always (as Woods’ campaign slogan put it)”a fighter for our side”. Thanks, Woody and get better soon, Michele
- Dave Carvalho - Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 2:50 pm:
This is just so, so sad. From the time he helped my wife correctly vote Al Greiman’s button when she sat in his chair as a visitor (the SOL has run . . .) to seeing him with Michelle at a show last month, I’ve always felt better and felt smarter after watching or talking with Woody. As Peter Coffey implied, the best tribute to Woody would be for those who knew him, either as friend or student, to hang in there, so that politics doesn’t become the exclusive playground for ideologues pursuing selfish purposes.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 4:19 pm:
When Rep. Bowman was CFO for Cook County, I was a Deputy Sheriff assigned to the county building detail. He was always a nice guy. He always signed the book to enter the building during closed hours without question. I know the matter seems trivial, but so many other county employees thought they did not have too. The guy was in the building 24/7 looking out for tax payers interests. RIP Rep. Bowman!
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Jul 14, 15 @ 7:15 pm:
My sincere and deepest condolences to the family.
OW
- Robert M Roman - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 7:15 am:
I worked for Woody on his campaign for Comptroller. We kept in touch for some years after, but… This news is a real bummer.
bob roman
- Bill Edley - Wednesday, Jul 15, 15 @ 8:00 am:
Woods was Appropriation Chairman my first term on the committee. He was always very generous with his time and knowledge, at a time when I so green that finding how to get back to my office after the legislative session was a feat of accomplishment.
Woody was more than smart, he was insightful. He understood the process and the politics. He was also a role model that I knew would never be within my grasp.
May God embrace his soul and grant his family peace.