Joining a long list of local men and women with Irish roots, Pat Bowler was named to serve as Grand Marshall of the 2016 St. Patrick’s Day Parade, according the parade organizer Chuck Corrigan, president of the West Suburban Irish.
Bowler an his wife, Pam, have resided in Naperville since 1987, raising three daughters, one son and countless golden retrievers.
His son is currently a F/A-18 Marine Aviator. The Bowlers have six grandchildren, all age five and under. Their seventh grandchild is expected in April.
Bowler grew up on the northwest side of Chicago and attended Western Illinois University.
His Irish-American heritage dates back to 1865, when his Great-great grandfather James Bowler immigrated from Ireland, and served on the Chicago Police Force from 1874 to 1921. Lieutenant Bowler, known for being incorruptible, became renown as a hero for his police service during the 1886 Haymarket Riot in Haymarket Square in Chicago.
The Bowler family has a richly documented history of service in Illinois. Congressman James B. Bowler, a Democrat, served Illinois in a variety of elected offices for more than 50 years, first sworn in as an alderman in the West Side’s 19th Ward in 1906. In 1953, at age 78 years old and running unopposed, he became the oldest freshman Congressman in the House of Representatives, where he served until his death in 1957.
A large collection of newspaper articles reflect the dedication of other members of the Bowler family, including John F. Bowler of Oak Park, a business education teacher who also coached football and baseball coach for 33 years at St. Mel High School.
Sergeant William F. Bowler was lauded in the Chicago Daily News in 1936 for heading a much-respected squad dedicated to serving Chicago’s Chinatown for a decade, one of the highlights of his 63-year career on the Chicago Police Force. When William Bowler retired, the headline read that “All Chinatown mourns; police friend to leave.”
Locally, this year’s Grand Marshall has served as President of Naperville Responds for Our Veterans. He also has been a head and assistant coach with the North Central College Men and Women Golf Teams. He is employed by Scheck Lumber Company.
“I am so very honored,” said Bowler during the Emerald Dinner on Feb. 27, where he was presented with a sash proclaiming Grand Marshall 2016. “Right now with all that’s going on our country toward men and women in uniform, I hope I can bring a little awareness to the importance of their service to keep us safe. I’ll be encouraging everyone to reach out and say ‘thanks’ to all those who serve us—paramedics, police, firefighters, and all the men and women in the armed services.”
