Glenn L. Bowers
Retired Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Game Commission
WW II Black Sheep Squadron Fighter Pilot
Glenn Lee Bowers of Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, died Friday, June 25, 2010 at his home in Dillsburg. Glenn was born in York, Pennsylvania on May 7, 1921.
Glenn graduated from William Penn (York) High School in 1939 and enrolled at Penn State, where he was a member of the Blue Band, Symphony, and Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. In early 1941 he entered the Penn State's Civilian Pilot Training Program, soloing later that year and receiving his Private Pilot's License. After Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the Navy as an aviation cadet and began active duty May 28, 1942 with a unit of 27 other Penn Staters.
Upon completion of training at Corpus Christi, Texas, he was awarded the wings of a naval aviator and commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Marine Corps in April, 1943. After qualifying with the required landings and takeoffs on an aircraft carrier, he was sent to the West Coast to await transport to the South Pacific as a replacement fighter pilot. In October 1943, he was assigned to the Black Sheep Squadron, VMF-214, which had already distinguished itself on its first combat tour. After a very brief training period flying a F4U Corsair, the Black Sheep returned to the combat area in November. He flew 28 combat missions with the Black Sheep Squadron before it was pulled from combat in January 1944, having lost its leader, "Pappy" Boyington, in combat on January 3rd. Glenn flew 58 combat missions with two other fighter squadrons during the 13 months he was in the South Pacific. The Black Sheep Squadron was recognized with the Presidential Unit Citation and Glenn was awarded 11 Air Medals and three Distinguished Flying Crosses.
After the war, he returned to Penn State, completed a B.S. in Zoology, and did post graduate work embracing the population dynamics of the state bird, the ruffed grouse, earning his M.S. in Wildlife Management. He was co-inventor of the mirror trap to capture grouse at drumming sites for research.
In 1948, he began his career with the Pennsylvania Game Commission as a wildlife biologist working with cottontail rabbits, developing habitat management plans for many beagle clubs in Pennsylvania and adjacent states. In 1957, he was promoted to Chief of Research (Wildlife Management) and to Deputy Executive Director in 1959. He advanced to Executive Director in 1965 and retired in 1982. Numerous innovations, such as the spring turkey season, were put in place during his 17 year tenure as Executive Director, longest in PGC history. Notably, the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area and the Scotia Range were built during his leadership despite stubborn opposition. Glenn will be remembered for his professional integrity.
He was active with the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies for 37 years, serving as president in 1979 and as a senior advisor from 1983-1995. He was honored with the Association's top recognition, the Seth Gordon Award, in 1982 and later with the Distinguished Service Award and honorary life membership. Also in 1982, he was honored by the National Wildlife Federation as the National Wildlife Conservationist of the Year.
Glenn became a charter member of the Ruffed Grouse Society in 1961 and was one of its oldest members. He was a member of the York Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America for more than 60 years and the Wildlife Society for a similar period. He was an honorary member of Tumbling Run Game Preserve and held memberships in the McSherrystown Fish and Game Association and the Mosquito Creek Sportsmens' Association, the Shippensburg Fish and Game Association, and the Penn State Alumni Association. Glenn was a member of the Conservation Officers of Pennsylvania, as well as the Silver Wings Fraternity, the Marine Corps League, the Navy League, Eureka Lodge F&AM, Harrisburg Consistory and Zembo Shrine. He was a life member of Dillsburg VFW Post 6771.
Always a dedicated gardener, in 1989 he became a fancier of tall bearded iris and in 1995 hosted a guest garden with over 850 different iris for the American Iris Society National Convention. He also bred iris for 8 years, specializing in reblooming and "space-age" iris.
Glenn was an avid hunter and enjoyed bird dogs and beagles. He favored grouse and woodcock hunting in Pennsylvania and New York, Hungarian partirdges in Ontario and Sharptail grouse in Nebraska and Montana. He enjoyed big game hunting in Pennsylvania and adjacent and western states and was an official measurer of big game trophies for Boone and Crockett and Pope and Young for over 20 years. He will forever be on watch at his favorite elk stand high above the Madison Valley in Montana.
Retired Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Game Commission
WW II Black Sheep Squadron Fighter Pilot
Glenn Lee Bowers of Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, died Friday, June 25, 2010 at his home in Dillsburg. Glenn was born in York, Pennsylvania on May 7, 1921.
Glenn graduated from William Penn (York) High School in 1939 and enrolled at Penn State, where he was a member of the Blue Band, Symphony, and Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. In early 1941 he entered the Penn State's Civilian Pilot Training Program, soloing later that year and receiving his Private Pilot's License. After Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the Navy as an aviation cadet and began active duty May 28, 1942 with a unit of 27 other Penn Staters.
Upon completion of training at Corpus Christi, Texas, he was awarded the wings of a naval aviator and commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Marine Corps in April, 1943. After qualifying with the required landings and takeoffs on an aircraft carrier, he was sent to the West Coast to await transport to the South Pacific as a replacement fighter pilot. In October 1943, he was assigned to the Black Sheep Squadron, VMF-214, which had already distinguished itself on its first combat tour. After a very brief training period flying a F4U Corsair, the Black Sheep returned to the combat area in November. He flew 28 combat missions with the Black Sheep Squadron before it was pulled from combat in January 1944, having lost its leader, "Pappy" Boyington, in combat on January 3rd. Glenn flew 58 combat missions with two other fighter squadrons during the 13 months he was in the South Pacific. The Black Sheep Squadron was recognized with the Presidential Unit Citation and Glenn was awarded 11 Air Medals and three Distinguished Flying Crosses.
After the war, he returned to Penn State, completed a B.S. in Zoology, and did post graduate work embracing the population dynamics of the state bird, the ruffed grouse, earning his M.S. in Wildlife Management. He was co-inventor of the mirror trap to capture grouse at drumming sites for research.
In 1948, he began his career with the Pennsylvania Game Commission as a wildlife biologist working with cottontail rabbits, developing habitat management plans for many beagle clubs in Pennsylvania and adjacent states. In 1957, he was promoted to Chief of Research (Wildlife Management) and to Deputy Executive Director in 1959. He advanced to Executive Director in 1965 and retired in 1982. Numerous innovations, such as the spring turkey season, were put in place during his 17 year tenure as Executive Director, longest in PGC history. Notably, the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area and the Scotia Range were built during his leadership despite stubborn opposition. Glenn will be remembered for his professional integrity.
He was active with the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies for 37 years, serving as president in 1979 and as a senior advisor from 1983-1995. He was honored with the Association's top recognition, the Seth Gordon Award, in 1982 and later with the Distinguished Service Award and honorary life membership. Also in 1982, he was honored by the National Wildlife Federation as the National Wildlife Conservationist of the Year.
Glenn became a charter member of the Ruffed Grouse Society in 1961 and was one of its oldest members. He was a member of the York Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America for more than 60 years and the Wildlife Society for a similar period. He was an honorary member of Tumbling Run Game Preserve and held memberships in the McSherrystown Fish and Game Association and the Mosquito Creek Sportsmens' Association, the Shippensburg Fish and Game Association, and the Penn State Alumni Association. Glenn was a member of the Conservation Officers of Pennsylvania, as well as the Silver Wings Fraternity, the Marine Corps League, the Navy League, Eureka Lodge F&AM, Harrisburg Consistory and Zembo Shrine. He was a life member of Dillsburg VFW Post 6771.
Always a dedicated gardener, in 1989 he became a fancier of tall bearded iris and in 1995 hosted a guest garden with over 850 different iris for the American Iris Society National Convention. He also bred iris for 8 years, specializing in reblooming and "space-age" iris.
Glenn was an avid hunter and enjoyed bird dogs and beagles. He favored grouse and woodcock hunting in Pennsylvania and New York, Hungarian partirdges in Ontario and Sharptail grouse in Nebraska and Montana. He enjoyed big game hunting in Pennsylvania and adjacent and western states and was an official measurer of big game trophies for Boone and Crockett and Pope and Young for over 20 years. He will forever be on watch at his favorite elk stand high above the Madison Valley in Montana.