Dr. Richard (Dick) Bowers

The Florida Highway Patrol is saddened by the recent loss of FHP Advisory Council member Dr. Richard (Dick) Bowers of Temple Terrace, Florida. Dr. Bowers was an active member of the Council and past president of the Gold Shield Foundation, which provides funding and educational opportunities to the families of Tampa Bay area law enforcement and fire rescue personnel who have died in the line of duty. Dr. Bowers was known mostly for his role with the University of South Florida’s athletics department. When he retired from USF, he worked at Tampa's Museum of Science and Industry where he continued his life's passion of sharing knowledge with members of the community.

As a member of FHP's Advisory Council, Dr. Bowers was genuinely concerned with our troopers and their families. He was a familiar face at the Troop C stations and to a number of troopers who came to know him as Doc. Upon learning of Bowers's death, Major Tom Knight said, "Doc was one of the finest men I ever had the opportunity to know and work with. His role in the community and friendship to the FHP will be sorely missed.” On behalf of the men and women of the Florida Highway Patrol, our thoughts, prayers, and condolences go to Dr. Bowers's family and friends.