Bobbie Bowie makes a great first impression
BY SUZANNE LOUDAMY Staff writer

Bobbie Bowie

The friendly voice on the phone and the smile behind the desk ... of course it's Ms. Bowie. Bobbie Bowie has been that friendly voice and that greeting smile at Whitehouse schools since 1966.

Ms. Bowie began her career with Whitehouse schools on a campus that the younger folks might not recognize. It was the Stanton School. Before the schools integrated, Whitehouse school district had a separate campus for black students.

In 1969 she moved to the office of the middle school. At that time, the middle school was housed on what is now the Brown campus. When the new Whitehouse Middle School building was built, Ms. Bowie moved onto that campus.

"In those days you did a little bit of everything. You didn't do just one job," Ms. Bowie said. She remembered testing vision and hearing for the entire district. "We watched the kids on the playground and even sometimes helped in the cafeteria."

Three generations of students have come through Ms. Bowie's office. She said it is so wonderful to see students come in and recognize them by remembering their parents from the past.

It is not unusual to have parents or grandparents come in the office and have a big smile come over their face as they recognize Ms. Bowie.

Betty Norris, also a longtime WISD employee and friend who has retired and rehired as a substitute, reminisced with Ms. Bowie about the principals Bowie has worked with.

"Let's see, as best I can remember it would be eight," Ms. Bowie said.

Her current principal, David Smith, says he has often told her, "Ms. Bowie, you can't retire until I do." He says she is absolutely irreplaceable.

"I love having Ms. Bowie in the North office. She is usually the first person you see when you come onto our campus, and she is so polite and helpful to our parents and visitors. Ms. Bowie's smiling face and won- derful personality can brighten anyone's day," Smith said.

Ms. Bowie says she has no plans to retire anytime soon. "I enjoy the kids. They keep me motivated." Bowie is a real people person.

"Ms. Bowie and I have known each other for 15 years and worked together at the junior high for eight years. I enjoy working with her because she has a warm heart and a great sense of humor," said Janet Brunt, WJHS campus secretary.

Ms. Bowie's work doesn't stop at the school door. While her face is the first seen by students and visitors to the junior high campus, she is also the face of Whitehouse that visitors see first.

She sells and collects tickets for all of the junior high football and basketball games, as well as

working the visitors' side of varsity football games. She says she genuinely enjoys meeting the people as they come in the gates and always looks forward to eating Mr. Wayne's chicken legs at halftime.

Her family is her most treasured blessing. She sees her nine sisters and brothers on a regular basis. They are all still members of the same church, New Hope Baptist, where Ms. Bowie is the church clerk, assistant secretary and sings in the choir. Her daughters Wanda, Marilyn and Candice, all WHS grads, and her six precious grandchildren are very close.

"Almost every Sunday and most holidays they come to my house," Ms. Bowie said. "I'm so proud of them all."

Ms. Bowie believes strongly in investing her time and talents

into her community. She contributes her time to the J.W. Holloway Scholarship Fund banquet that is held every two years. This group of dedicated Whitehouse community members works throughout the year to raise funds to award scholarships to deserving students.

The Charmette Civic and Social Club is blessed with her participation in their programs that provide scholarships, visits to nursing homes and the Rusk State Hospital, as well as providing for Angel Tree kids.

The smile of this caring woman makes a difference in the life of the students at Whitehouse Junior High. She says they make her days special, too.

Ms. Bowie said, "When you're around good people, it just works out that way."