Even though he's retiring, Temple Bowling is not hanging up his running shoes

  • Published
  • By Janae' Daniels
  • AEDC/PA
Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn. --  As many before him can attest - when it's time, it's time.

After more than 40 years of service to his country, Temple Bowling is retiring at the end of this month.

"I decided to retire because I think it's time," he said. "Everyone who approaches retirement has some trepidation about making this big decision - not about what will they do in retirement, but what happens to all the relationships and friendships we've developed."

Bowling said the thing he will miss the most is the people.

"I've enjoyed coming to work at the center for the past 37 years because of the people," Bowling said. "No matter the times, good or bad, no matter the problems that face us, what's enjoyable is working with people of integrity to address and solve whatever is confronting us at the time."

Bowling has learned over the years that life is about relationships and attitudes.

"The point to remember, whether in work or retirement, developing healthy relationships is key to having a meaningful and fulfilling life," he said. "The relationships that I've been privileged to develop have made AEDC my work place of choice.

"My hope is that everyone who works at AEDC understands the importance of relationships in getting the center's mission done, but more importantly, in living our lives."

Work-wise, Bowling says his favorite memory over the years was working with AEDC Lifetime Achievement Award Fellow Dave Pickering in the early competitions of the AEDC contract. Bowling references the AEDC outsourcing model - meaning there are military, civil service and contractor employees.

"That's the most gratifying thing is that we've kept that model and have a contract form that allows AEDC to function as if there's not a contract," Bowling said.

Col. Robert Bender, 704th Mission Support Group (MSG) commander, thought it would be fitting for Bowling to leave AEDC like it was a normal day. A 5K run and fun walk is scheduled for his last day, Feb. 26, honoring Bowling's last official run at AEDC.

"Temple, no doubt, is a balanced human being - professionally, spiritually and physically - he is simply a role model for a lot of us," Colonel Bender said. "Temple has worked hard to balance those three aspects of his life. His peers, Ron Polce and John Sutton, have run regularly with him at lunch time throughout the years. I thought a final run with Temple and his friends leading the pack out would be an appropriate way to send him off."

The colonel jokingly refers to Bowling as the Arnold AFB yellow pages and will miss his wealth of knowledge, not only of the people but of the interworking of the center as a whole.

"When we so often say the expression 'built in his image.' We sort of mean it. When it comes to AEDC," Colonel Bender said. "However, Temple has been a guiding force for the last 30 years. The AEDC of today was truly built in his image."

Ron Polce has been running at lunch with Bowling since the early 1980s and has had the opportunity to know Bowling in a different light.

"I've known and worked with Temple for 37 years and when asked what do I remember most, I could respond with a long list of his distinguished accomplishments, which have helped make AEDC the premier testing installation in the world," Polce said. "Or I could comment and chuckle about his rusty old Oldsmobile. However, what I remember and know most about Temple is that he truly cares about people. Yes, a genuine caring and interest in people and building relationships that has helped build a strong Team AEDC."

John Sutton, AEDC contracting director will miss Bowling's enthusiasm and continuous support for the government-contractor business model.

"Throughout his career at AEDC, Temple was always the first to speak out about how successful the government-contractor business model has been for nearly sixty years," Sutton said "He's met with countless visitors to AEDC over the years and each of them left with a better understanding that it's the dedicated people - both contractor and government employees - who work here that's made AEDC successful."

Bowling moved to the 704th Mission Support Group as the deputy director of MSG a short time before former AEDC Commander Col. Art Huber came onboard at AEDC as the new commander.

"All of the previous deputies had been engineers by training, so many of us were a bit curious about how a non-engineer and a former PK [Contracting] yardstick would fit in with the 'just git 'er dun' world of Mission Support," Deputy Director of Base Civil Engineering Al Simmons said. "His rust-bucket of a car fit right in with most of us so he got off to a good start. And, he knew when and how to intervene in technical issues without alienating the engineering staff. We were pleasantly surprised with his people skills, and he has made our work enjoyable, proving that PKers can adapt to new worlds."

If he were to give advice to the younger working generation, Bowling said they should be willing to put their hearts into their work.

"I would tell young people they need to be accountable and responsible for their actions," he said. "If they would come to work on time, be diligent in working, and do what their bosses ask them to do, they will never lack for a job or lack opportunities to move up."