Skipper Bowles

Hargrove "Skipper" Bowles, Jr. (November 16, 1919 – September 7, 1986) was an American Democratic politician and businessman, based in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Bowles (far left) with President John F. Kennedy and North Carolina politicians in 1961

Bowles was born in Monroe, North Carolina [1] and served in the United States Military during World War II (1943–1945).

In the early 1960s, Bowles served as Governor Terry Sanford's chairman of the state Board of Conservation and Development[2] - a post similar to what became known as the Secretary of Commerce, although it dealt with some environmental matters, as well. Afterwards, Bowles was elected to one term in the North Carolina House of Representatives and two terms in the North Carolina Senate.

In 1972 Bowles won the Democratic primary[3] for Governor of North Carolina but lost the general election to James Holshouser.[4] Thus, he became the first Democratic nominee to lose the North Carolina gubernatorial race in the twentieth century.

Bowles later became known for his service to and fundraising for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, from which he graduated in 1941. UNC's Center for Alcohol Studies is named for him.[5][6]

Bowles died in 1986 from complications of Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS).

His son, Erskine Bowles, followed his father both into the investment banking business and into politics.