Honoring a Great Man and the Legacy that Lives On

Bowen Family Fund supports Veterans

Former Indiana Governor Otis Bowen will well be remembered for making a difference in the lives of others. Indiana’s 44th governor was a dynamic leader and distinguished himself in service at the local, state and national levels. From his early days in Fulton County where his dreams of practicing medicine were born, to his service in uniform in World War II, “Doc” Bowen’s life was defined by caregiving and public service. Upon his return from military service, he started a private medical practice in Bremen and began a career in public life that carried him from local office to the General Assembly and on to one of the most consequential governorships of Indiana’s second century. After his two terms as governor from 1973 to 1981, Dr. Bowen joined the board of directors of Lilly Endowment. His period of service to the foundation was interrupted only once — by his appointment as secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services during the second term of President Ronald Reagan from 1985 to 1989. He was the first medical doctor to hold that cabinet position. When President Reagan left office, “Doc” Bowen returned to Bremen, Indiana, where it all began. 

Thomas M. Lofton, chairman of the Lilly Endowment's board of directors, once described Dr. Bowen as “a quiet and thoughtful, gentle and forceful presence on the board." Dr. Bowen’s wife, Carol, tells of his passion and influence in support of funding programs for returning veterans at Crane Naval Surface Warfare Station Center. The Center is the third largest United States Navy installation in the world, and is located in Crane, Indiana, 20 miles southwest of Bloomington. The Lilly Endowment honors sacrifices made by veterans and their families by funding efforts that help them as much as possible to live rewarding and meaningful lives in families that are healthy and supportive. 

For the Bowens, a desire to support the Veterans Therapeutic Art Center, Inc.(VTAC) was clear. VTAC is a local program founded and operated by disabled/combat wounded veterans who know first hand the difficulties that veterans meet when transitioning to civilian life from military service. There are 51,000 veterans living in surrounding communities; the organization’s goal is to provide a center for therapy to all those who have served in the U.S. military and their families through instruction and participation in the arts, crafts, mechanics and similar activities. With generous support from the Bowens through a nonpermanent fund at MCCF, VTAC moved into a permanent facility at 220 North Center Street in Plymouth. Partnerships with other organizations have developed quickly and continue to grow. VTAC is set to become a hub for resources and services to veterans and their families including licensed therapists and practitioners.

 "...the deeper purpose is to help veterans bond with one another through shared creative time, and to create bonds within the veteran’s own family and community as they work on projects together." --- Daniel Atkinson (VTAC co-founder)