Owensboro’s Joe Bowen — a former small business owner, Kentucky state senator, and active member of the community — has died at the age of 71 after a heart attack.
After graduating from Daviess County High School in 1968, Bowen attended the University of Kentucky and graduated with a degree in business administration in 1972. He was an advocate of youth sports, serving as both a coach and administrator for several youth sports organizations.
Bowen’s professional experience included working as a partner of Bowen Tire company, a family-owned business started by his father in 1949. His efforts made Bowen a two-time Kentucky Chamber MVP award winner.
Bowen also served on the board of trustees for the University of Kentucky; as chairman for the Owensboro YMCA and the Kentucky State Parks Foundation; and as a board member of the Owensboro, Davies County Hospital, Inc. and is an alumni of the National Conference of Advance Leadership Skills.
Bowen was first elected to represent Kentucky’s 8th Senate District in 2011 and served until 2018, when he did not seek re-election. He also served in the House of Representatives from 2005-2006. During his time in the General Assembly, Bowen served as chair of the Senate State and Local Government Committee and co-chair of the Public Pension Oversight Board, and was a member of several other committees. He was champion for transparency and improvements to Kentucky’s pension systems to ensure future solvency.
