House Bill 9101
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida House of Representatives - 1999 HR 9101
By Representative Villalobos
1 House Resolution
2 A resolution honoring Ann Bowden and Bobby
3 Bowden on the occasion of their 50th Wedding
4 Anniversary.
5
6 WHEREAS, when Florida State University Head Football
7 Coach Bobby Bowden first arrived in Tallahassee in 1976, he
8 described his relationship with the school as a "marriage,"
9 and was quoted as saying he was determined to "let no man put
10 it asunder," and
11 WHEREAS, 23 years later, it is evident that Coach
12 Bowden approached the "marriage" between himself and Florida
13 State University with a sense of devotion, understanding,
14 commitment, and faith that is rare, and
15 WHEREAS, fortunately, the combination of qualities
16 Coach Bowden possessed and brought to bear in his new head
17 coaching job rarely leads to the outcome of failure, and
18 WHEREAS, in the 23 years of accolade that have been
19 bestowed upon Coach Bowden since becoming the head coach of
20 Florida State University, it is often easy to overlook the
21 fact that Coach Bowden enjoys another realm of success outside
22 the world of college football, a realm in which he is perhaps
23 even more successful and in which he takes even greater pride,
24 that being the success of his marriage and his family, and
25 WHEREAS, in 1949, Bobby Bowden was a freshman
26 quarterback at the University of Alabama, fulfilling a
27 lifelong dream to play for the Crimson Tide, and
28 WHEREAS, during one semester at Tuscaloosa, he met Ann
29 Estock, who lured him back to Birmingham, and
30
31
1
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida House of Representatives - 1999 HR 9101
509-169-99
1 WHEREAS, Bowden transferred to Samford University and
2 then, on April 1, 1949, Robert C. Bowden married Julia Ann
3 Estock, and
4 WHEREAS, the marriage between Ann and Bobby Bowden has
5 now flourished and endured for 50 years, producing a family of
6 six children and 21 grandchildren, and
7 WHEREAS, Ann Bowden has always shared her husband's
8 commitment to a strong family, and
9 WHEREAS, much has been written over the years of the
10 success of the Bowdens' marriage and family, of Ann Bowden's
11 involvement with the university and the football program, and
12 of the mutual support, understanding, and commitment that
13 characterizes their relationship, and
14 WHEREAS, it should come as no surprise to anyone that
15 the man responsible for one of the greatest success stories in
16 sports enjoys a marriage and family life that is equally
17 successful and abundant, and that has lasted more than twice
18 as long, and
19 WHEREAS, cynical people would argue that no one person
20 should have the amount of good fortune and fulfillment in one
21 lifetime that Ann and Bobby Bowden have shared for 50 years,
22 and
23 WHEREAS, those who know the Bowdens and those whose
24 lives they have touched know that Ann and Bobby Bowden have
25 been blessed with such a life because no one could deserve it
26 more, NOW, THEREFORE,
27
28 Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of
29 Florida:
30
31
2
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida House of Representatives - 1999 HR 9101
509-169-99
1 That the House of Representatives of the State of
2 Florida hereby offers its warmest congratulations to Ann
3 Bowden and Bobby Bowden on this, the occasion of their 50th
4 Wedding Anniversary.
5 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution
6 be presented to Ann Bowden and Bobby Bowden as a tangible
7 token of the sentiments expressed herein.
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
3