Be a Bob Bowler

Most funerals are sad. You cry. You remember. You reflect. However, when you go to a funeral and you're sure the person is in heaven, there’s a feeling of peace.

Today is the funeral of Bob Bowler.

Forty‑one years ago, Bob wanted to be a good role model for his kids. He didn’t know what getting involved in the Special Olympics would look like. He just drove over during his lunch break, walked in, and said, “I want to help.”

After an hour, he needed to leave to go back to work, but his new buddies didn’t want him to go. So he stayed a little longer. Those couple of hours sparked an initiative to get hands-on with the Special Olympics.

So he raised money. He started a golf program. Then a basketball program and eventually every other sport you can think of.

Then he dreamed bigger. He wanted to start a summer camp for those with special needs. He called it Camp Soar.

That first summer: 56 campers and 35 volunteers. This year in 2025: 335 campers, 25 on the wait list, and over 500 volunteers.

Last week, up until the day he died at the age of 85, Bob Bowler still raised money. He still ran camps, and he still took initiative every week with the Special Olympics. His initiative inspired me to take mine years ago when I volunteered to help with the 3-3 basketball program. (See the picture below) I recorded a podcast about him here.

What Bob understood that most don’t: he served expecting nothing in return.
Most people serve because they get something for it; service hours, payment, recognition. Bob served because it was the right thing to do.

Service requires you to be unselfish. Auburn football coach Hugh Freeze put it this way:

Find someone or some mission to serve. A nonprofit. A sports team. People at work.
It doesn’t matter. Because when you serve, you lead.

So just for today, be a Bob Bowler.

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