Street Talk: Local man heavily involved in community work

There is more to Ron Bowman than meets the eye.

Not only is he the president of the Kiwanis Club of Carson City, a member of the Nevada Day Board (Formerly called the Nevada Day committee), a local businessman, and a Vietnam War veteran, he's a father and husband as well.

Ron is 53 and was born in Modesto, Calif. He's married to Linda, who was born in Ipswich, England.

"She's still got an accent," said a smiling Ron as we began our visit. "We'll celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary on Dec. 11. We have one son, Eric, who is 24 and lives in Spokane, Wash."

The couple met in Reno at the old Peppermint Lounge Disco, a place that no longer exists.

"We dated for two years before I could figure out she's the one for me," said Ron with a laugh. "We moved to Carson City in 1972 because of work. I was a pipefitter and in 1980 I opened Bowman Drywall in Carson City. We install acoustical tile ceilings and do steel stud framing and drywall. We have 30 employees including Linda, who is my secretary/treasurer - I'm the president."

Ron's dad, Bill, was a drywall contractor and he and Ron's mom, Lucy Ann, are both retired and live in Carson City.

"Linda's father was killed in WWII and her step-father, Russell, and her mom, Jean, raised her," added Ron. "They live in Ipswich. I'm an only child. Linda is the oldest of seven. Two brothers and four sisters. Two sisters live in Northern California and one sister lives in Seattle. The others live in England."

Ron served in the U.S. Army from 1966-69 and was a member of the Signal Corp of the HHC 2nd Brigade of the 9th Infantry Division.

"I spent 1968-69 in Vietnam," he said. "We got shot at a few times but nothing like some went through."

When Ron was in his late 30's he "joined the Boy Scouts" as a Cub Scout Pack Den Leader and he's since served as a Cub Master, Scoutmaster and District Commissioner.

"Eric is an Eagle Scout," he noted proudly.

This is Ron's second year as president of the Kiwanis Club, an organization he's been a member of for six years. They are involved with the Boy Scouts too.

"We sponsor Boy Scout Troop Pack 145 and Explorer Post 16 in Carson City," he said happily. "We're a non-profit club that has close to 40 members. Our motto is 'We Build' and our main focus is helping the children of the world. We're a world-wide organization and we welcome new members and/or inquires."

Ron said to call him at 885-7302 and he'll tell you more about the Kiwanis Club.

SOME FREE PUBLICITY

That's what Ron wanted for the Nevada Day ceremonies coming up this week and since Ron and I have "talked boxing" most of this year I said "why not?" to his request.

Ron job for the non-profit Nevada Day Board is being its "Logistics Director" and I asked him what that entails.

"My job is to set-up the communications, which are the loud speakers and the reviewing stands, for the Nevada Day Parade," he replied. "It's also my job to get the rock for the rock drilling contest."

Ron said the parade has 202 entrants this year and 10 marching bands will perform during the parade. The Grand Marshall is Sen. Richard Bryan.

"Senator Bryan will have his annual, and last, free chili feed after the parade at the Carson Nugget," added Ron. "That night we'll have fireworks at the Ormsby House. Nevada Day and the parade is a complicated procedure that surprised me. It's hard work but enjoyable work too."

He paused and laughed before continuing. "Good thing it only comes once a year because it takes a year to put it all together - It takes a whole community to make it work!"

Ron did note that this year the annual 1864 Grand Ball will take place Thursday night at the Carson Nugget and will celebrate Nevada's 136-years of statehood.

Carson City's Yolanda Garcia will Chair the Ball and as usual, she'll be wearing her "1864 Velveteen Beaded Gown" that Yolanda says "I'm gonna squeeze into" because "It's still fun to dress up" and she also said that semi-formal or period costume attire "is requested" for the ball.

The Ball begins with cocktails at 6:30 p.m. Dinner is at 7:15 p.m. and there will be presentations, dancing, special guest appearances by "characters from our past" and lots more.

Tickets are on sale at many locations in town including the Nevada Day office. Call them at 882-2600 for information.

- You can see Yolanda and her gown tonight on our Street Talk TV Show on CAT-10 at 6 p.m. Yolanda will also belly dance for us and we'll have a few surprises on the one-hour show that repeats Monday at 8 a.m.

THEY DO TRAVEL

Ron and Linda "like to travel" and they do.

"We like to go to Mexico and have been there more than once and we've been to England, Florida and we like to go fishing in the Delta," said Ron happily. "We're both community involved people. Linda is a member of Advocates To End Domestic Violence too."

Ron says at home their "back yard is beautiful" and that's because of Linda.

"She has an English Garden that she works hard at to keep up in the middle of the desert," said a smiling Ron. "We keep busy all the time and like living in Carson City. I can't think of anyplace else I'd rather live."

Me neither ....

SOME CONGRATULATIONS DUE

First to Dayton's Marilyn Allen. She competed in the ICS world chili championships two weeks ago today in Laughlin and finished fourth in a field of 111 cooks.

"I'm very proud and happy to to that well in the cookoff," said Marilyn. "It was a tough field with the best chili cooks in the world competing."

- Also congratulations to former Carson City resident Tony Flamm of Sparks. He finished second in the world salsa competition at the event and that's fantastic! His mom and dad own and operate Carson Vacuum & Sewing in the Scolari's Center on Highway 50 East.

- Finally, congratulations to Dr. Ed Pierczynski (Better known as Dr. Chili) who is now the Colorado State Chili Champion. He won that state's championship last Sunday when he captured the "Mile High Regional" cookoff at Cripple Creek, Colo. The win made him eligible to cook in the 2001 ICS championships, which will be held in Reno next October.

(Alan Rogers is a Nevada Appeal columnist. His message phone is 887-2430, ext. 402.)