John Bowen was a firefighter, and proud to be a firefighter.
A mentor to young firefighters under his watch.
“He was your friend when you needed to talk,” Assistant Fire Chief David Richtmeyer would remind fellow firefighters and guests Thursday night at the annual Fayetteville Fire Department Recognition Ceremony that filled Aevex Veterans Club at Segra Stadium. “He was your biggest inspiration when your burdens were heavy. He provided a lifelong vision of how we should treat our fellow man.”
Richtmeyer’s voice would quiver in this solemn moment.
After all, John Bowen was that shining example of the men who would stand so proud on this night of firefighter retirements, promotions and honors of those who fight the flames and the deadly smoke, rescue those from the burning homes and the crushed and twisted metal of vehicular accidents and hazardous toxics, and all at the risk of life to themselves.
They are a brotherhood of firefighters, and proud to be.
Among them were Jonathan Ferguson, Joseph Bumgarner, Thomas Farrell, Geoffrey Kieser, Troy Mason, Zachary Peele, Marc Sykes, Johnny Ammons Jr., William Laurence, Brandon Lee, Christopher McCullen, David Mercado, J. Bradley Tappan, Zachary Wages, Mitchell Morgan, William Roth-Roffy, Mike Godwin, Ronnie Autry Jr., William Miller, Christian Quinn and Michael Currie.
“Thank you for those,” the Fire Department chaplain would pray, “who put other people beyond themselves.”
This would be an evening of firefighters such as Lt. Randy Raikes and Capt. John Hall, recipients of the Silver Life Saving Award; Capt. Jeffrey McPhail and firefighter Spencer Rowell, recipients of the Gold Life Saving Award for their efforts to pull a baby from a vehicle crash on Gillis Hill Road; Capt. Zachary Peele, recipient of the Benjamin E. Nichols HazMat Award; Capt. Rusty Stewart, recipient of the Calvin E. Bishop Rescue Responder Award; Battalion Chief Robert Bowers, recipient of the Ronald G. Lewis Community Risk Reduction Champion Award; and Christopher Throckmorton, who was honored as Firefighter of the Year.
“I just want to protect property and save lives,” Throckmorton, 53, a 1988 graduate of South View High School in Hope Mills, would say humbly about his 17 years with Lake Rim Fire Station 11. “It’s a very honorable job.”
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‘Model firefighter’
Richtmeyer, the assistant fire chief, would need a moment to present the final award.
“It’s hard put in a few words the impact in his short 35 years of life,” Richtmeyer would say before Fire Chief Mike Hill would present posthumously the Fire Officer of the Year award to the mother and sisters of Battalion Chief John Bowen.
John Bowen, a firefighter since age 16, died April 16, 2022, six months after being diagnosed with colon cancer.
“Not only did Chief Bowen set the example for a model firefighter,” Hill would say, “he set the example of a person that we should all aspire to emulate in life.”
A tearful mother would accept the award on behalf of her son.
“Pride in his accomplishments at such an early age, but sad he wasn’t there to accept the award himself because he meant so much to the Fire Department,” Betty Ann Bowen, 72, would say. “He would have been very humbled. John never thought he deserved recognition or praise. He was just doing his job. He didn’t see that as a special talent, but a gift from the Lord. He would have been very thankful.”
Sisters Nada Werner and Holly Reardon joined their mother in accepting the award.
“We were just proud,” Werner, 47, would say. “We were just so proud.”
The evening, Reardon said, was one for admiring a brother’s and a firefighter’s life.
“We lost John in April after a short battle with cancer, so tonight was a mix of profound admiration and profound sadness,” Reardon, 45, would say. “Admiration for the leader that my baby brother was and sadness that he wasn’t there with us to accept the award himself.
“As we listened to the letters that had been written to nominate him for the award, I was reminded of how wise he was for his young 35 years. He innately knew what it was to be a leader. He knew that taking care of your people is your No. 1 job. This is a lesson that applies not only to firefighting but to any business or organization.
“John’s leadership style was all about building a strong sense of community and culture within his team,” Reardon would say. “He was always looking for ways to bring people together and make them feel like they were part of something bigger than themselves. This is why he was so effective as a leader, and why he was so beloved by his team.”
A college diploma
John Bowen grew up on the family farm near Erwin, where he had a passion for hunting, fishing and admiring his father, the late Ronnie Bowen, and hanging out with boyhood friend Scott Collier. Bowen and Collier joined the Westarea Volunteer Fire Department on Collier’s dare in 2003.
After graduating from Triton High School in Harnett County, Bowen attended Campbell University and eventually earned his associate of arts degree from Fayetteville Technical Community College. He was completing his undergraduate studies in fire science at Fayetteville State University when he was diagnosed with colon cancer.
After Thursday’s ceremony, Hill and Richtmeyer surprised Betty Ann Bowen with her son’s diploma from FSU.
“It was so important to me,” said Bowen, a retired principal and schoolteacher. “He had told me, ‘Mom, I’m going for my master’s in the ministry. Not to preach, but someone who counsels and helps others.’ His award and his degree will be displayed in a prominent place in my home.”
Epilogue
Hundreds of firefighters would bid farewell to John Bowen on April 19, 2022, at Sardis Presbyterian Church in Linden.
“It had to be someone who could guide and direct, protect and serve, save lives and property,” the Fayetteville Fire Department Recognition Ceremony program read. “Confident enough to overcome fear yet be fearless, never accept failure, sacrifice life and limb, and pray and love. Someone that when the fire is out and the wrecks are cleared returns home to their family and smiles a big smile and fights back the tears when they hear one of their children say, ‘I want to be just like you when I grow up.’”
John Bowen leaves behind a 13-year-old son.
The boy’s father was a firefighter, and his father would want all to know, he was proud to be.
Bill Kirby Jr. can be reached at billkirby49@gmail.com or 910-624-1961.
