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Dr. Randall Bowden
After battling cancer for over five years, Dr. Randall Bowden passed peacefully in his home on April 7, 2021, with his wife of 24 years, Cindy, by his side. Dr. Bowden was born in Council, Idaho on Sept. 26, 1959 and grew up in Idaho and Southern California. He received his doctoral degree from the University of Denver in 2000. His career in higher education spanned over 30 years. He was employed by Colorado Christian College, University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, St. Leo University in Florida, the University of North Dakota, Kaplan University, and spent the past twelve years in the Texas A&M University System. In his eighth year at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, he was recruited by Tarleton State University as Department Head and Professor in Higher Education Administration, Educational Leadership, & Technology. He and his wife, Cindy, have resided in Granbury for four years. Throughout his career, Dr. Bowden was a chair or dissertation committee member for more than 100 students. He was published in numerous academic journals and invited to present at national and international conferences. In 2000, he co-founded The Journal of Hispanic Higher Education and was a consulting editor since its inception. He also acted as a book editor and reviewer for academic journals. His published novel, Chasing Echoes, a work of fiction, was his desire to venture into a world filled with artistic creativity and imagination. At 50 years old, Dr. Bowden entered his first triathlon and claimed he was “hooked.” His eight-year tenure included competing in several sprint and Olympic distance triathlons, Ironman 70.3 Texas, Ironman 70.3 Boise, Ironman Cairns, and Ironman Louisville. An avid runner, he also completed several half marathons and marathons. In 2016 Dr. Bowden was first diagnosed with cancer and was successfully treated at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. In October 2018, right before competing in Ironman Louisville, Dr. Bowden was diagnosed with another type of cancer, stage 4 metastatic melanoma. His doctors at MD Anderson encouraged him to participate in the Ironman. Afterward, he continued to train and compete in Texas. In addition to his passion for training and competition, he enjoyed traveling with Cindy and flyfishing. Dr. Bowden is survived by his wife, Cindy; mother, Barbara Chilcott Loftis; brother, Les Smith; sister, Cindy Bowden-Hayes; daughters Nikki Bowden Tafoya and Sara Bowden Nestler; and grandchildren Michaela, Naithan, Rachel, Cadance, and Emma. There are no events scheduled. In lieu of flowers, you can show your support by donating to Angel Flight South Central at www.angelflightsc.com in memory of Dr. Randall Bowden.
Condolence Messages

49 Responses

  1. I will miss you more than you will ever know my friend. Godspeed and thank you for the pleasure of being your friend and colleague.

  2. Sis, Beautifully written. What a wonderful tribute to Randall. He had such a wonderful life and was so blessed to have you sis. Love you. xoxo

  3. I am not sure I can find eloquent words to describe Randall. His passing has weighed heavily on me. While I am so grateful that he is no longer suffering, I am also grieving that I will never get to see him or talk to him again. Randall was a tremendous leader and colleague. Over the years, I’ve enjoyed his dry sense of humor and how that humor combined with an unwavering sense of positivity even when he was battling significant personal challenges. I’ve never met someone as tough as Randall. Ever. Setting aside the obvious mental and physical strength required to be an Ironman triathlete, I see his greatest demonstration of strength in his hard fought battle with cancer. Looking at his professional career, I see a man who helped develop countless educational leaders. And, I have been thinking in recent days about the impact all of his graduates have on their own students. What a legacy.

  4. My sincere condolences for Cindy and the Bowden family. It has been an honor to transport Randall on his trips to Houston. My prayers are with you.

  5. So sad to hear! Had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Bowden at the YMCA while working out. Was an AMAZING person!!!

  6. Randall was one of a kind! I will miss him dearly, but am so thankful for the wonderful memories. Knowing Randall has made me a better person.

  7. Cindy, I’m so very sorry to receive this news. I know your husband wagered a brave fight against cancer, and you were right by his side during the journey. Please know my prayers are with you and your family.

  8. Dear Cindy,
    Elias and I send you are sincere condolences. Randall was a brave and kind man and we are blessed to have met him. Please know we are praying for you and the family.
    Orpha Valverde

  9. Sorry for your loss. Katarina and me talked about the memories of him participating on special events for the kids. He was a great man and the two of you looked like you were totally in love. Thanks for bing his rock.

  10. My last (face to face) conversation with Dr. Bowden was in January 2021. As he stood there visiting with us, I reflected on Dr. B’s courage and ability to smile and laugh through his condition. I am thankful for his, his resilience, and his laughter.

    May your family find peace and comfort in his memory.

  11. Cindy, Randell was great man and I am sure he touched and helped many people in his all to short life. Thinking back when I first met you and Randell, when we were celebrating your birthday. I liked both of you! I will never forget that you and Randell are the reason that your Mom and Andy are married. I am praying for you every day and will continue to keep you in my prayers.
    My love and
    His peace.
    Cousin Jeff

  12. Dear, Cindy and Bowden family
    Please accept my condolences for Randall’s passing. Randall was an inspiration to me from the day we met. He exemplified what a fearless leader really means. I will always remember his quick wit, his intelligence, and his tenacity in leading us to exemplary change throughout our learning community. He will never be forgotten and cannot be replaced. I miss him. We all do.
    Mark J. Weber, TSU Ed.D. Program Coordinator

  13. I met Randall through his beautiful wife, Cindy. It was as if he was an old friend. He had a way about him that made people comfortable and when he smiled, the entire room lit up.
    I have always admired and respected the beautiful marriage they made together.
    Much love to you my sweet Cindy.

  14. Dr. Bowden was an incredible colleague and leader of our department. Grit is the word that comes to mind to describe him. He faced every challenge with determination and tenacity, and he was the best at “rallying the troops” and getting us motivated to try new things. We will miss him so much.

  15. Randall inspired me to be more than I was. You are loved and missed. Thank you Randall for your friendship and encouragement.

  16. Cindy, Sharon and I are sincerely sorry to hear of the loss of your husband. Our prayers go out to you and your family.

  17. Randall was my Superman. He was an inspiration and a true friend. There are no words to truly express why a wonderful person he was. We love you Cindy and are so sorry for your loss.

  18. My deepest condolences to you and loved ones, Cindy. May our Lord give you the strength during this difficult time. My prayers are with you.

  19. I’m so sorry to hear this. I met Randall only a handful of times just before you were married. I remember he was kind and confident. I’m thinking of you and your family. Much love!

  20. Barb, Les and Cindy
    I am sorry for your loss. I have such fond memories of my childhood with you guys living behind us. I did speak to Randy years ago right after he had completing defending his dissertation. One of the outstanding memories from my childhood was the trip that Randy and I took to Idaho, Oregon, and Northern California fishing and hiking. I would love to speak with you guys please reach out to my email and I will give you a call

  21. I never got to meet Mr Bowden but heard all about him through my husband, Allen, who had the honor of Angel Flighting him. He told me what an inspiration he was & how he admired his solid Ironman spirit! He definitely left a lasting impression on him that we are both very grateful for.
    Very sorry for your loss….may he rest in peace and your family find comfort in our Lord during this difficult time.
    Many Blessings,
    Sue Jefferies

  22. Dr. Bowden had a consistently positive outlook that was inspiring to those around him. As a dreamer and a visionary, he was always looking for ways to innovate the education world. He was a blessing to his students, staff, faculty, and friends. A true Iron Man whose impact will not be forgotten!

  23. Cindy, we are so saddened to hear that Randall passed. Karen and I really enjoyed the time we got to spend with you both, and we will miss Randall. May God grant you peace and comfort.

  24. Cindy,
    I am so sorry for your loss. Please let me know if you need anything. Your family is in my prayers.

  25. What an amazing guy. While I have not talked with Randy since graduation , I remember the fun times @ Apple Valley High School. The car he owned which we would head to the beach in and then drive home in 100 degree heat with no AC .. and many more fun times. RIP Randy!!

  26. I had the pleasure of meeting Randall when he would come to MDA. I am one of the phlebotomist who would draw his blood at the lab.
    When you work here, you have the privilege to meet and get to know many people, but there was something very special about Randall. He wore a brilliant smile and never complained. He spoke on different subjects and many times about how great his wife was. He would talk about his work, kids, grand children and his latest project … his army jeep. We had a lot in common in that arena because my husband is restoring his 71 Ford Bronco.
    What he didn’t dwell on was his illness. I never asked Randall personal questions about his reasons for coming to MDA, but on occasion he would open up. Since Covid, patients must come to MDA alone and many times they just need somebody to talk to. It takes strength , courage and determination to undergo some of the brutal chemo they gave him, yet he endured …. A LOT. Truly an Ironman.

    To Cindy and to all of his family, my heartfelt and deepest condolences on the passing of your husband, father, grandfather…. and my friend.

    ~ Donna Parker
    MD Anderson

  27. Randy was my former brother-in-law and he was an incredibly inspiring guy. He came to a few of my college and professional volleyball matches and would wink and show a thumbs up just prior to fame time. I remember his artistic skills as well. They were tremendous. I’ll never forget the ice sculpture of Pete’s Dragon while living in Idaho. May your days in Heaven be all that you imagined.

  28. Our deepest condolences to you and His family. Jim held Randall in the highest regards working with him at the university. He was an amazing man. May you find comfort in his memories.

  29. I had the pleasure of working with Randall at Kaplan. He was truly remarkable. His passion for higher education, and for helping students, was incredible. I am so sorry that he is gone.

  30. My deepest thoughts and prayers are going out for Cindy and all of Randall’s and Cindy’s family. It was a joy teaching with the very talented Cindy. We became close friends. During our friendship I had the pleasure of meeting Randall but mostly hearing about him through the loving expressions from his wife. They have a beautiful marriage with much devotion for each other. May you feel God’s strength and Randall’s love every day.
    Love, Ruthann Cazalas

  31. The Ed D. Cohort 19 at Tarleton was so fortunate to have Dr. Bowden as our FIRST professor for the program. I was entranced by his teaching style and his ability to make the concept of the Scholar-Practitioner so easy to understand. It was so clear that he was doing what he loved to do and was an inspiration for all of us. I told my wife after my first class with him just how special he was and when I told her that he passed away, she felt sorry for me because she remembered how special he was to me during my first semester back in the summer of 2019. We had no idea how little time we had left with him. We will miss him dearly and we thank the family for sharing him with us during his final couple of years. Now we pray that the Peace that passes all understanding be upon you during your time of grief and take solace that this dear man is reaping the many rewards he earned here on earth. May God Bless Randal Bowden and all of his family.

  32. Rest In Peace, Dr. Randall Bowden. A dear friend, valued colleague, respected educator, & an amazing athlete. He must have already begun training for his next triathlon in heaven. May God bless his soul. My most sincere condolences to Cindy & the family.

  33. I am so saddened to hear of Dr. Bowden’s passing. I have chills thinking of him and what an impact he had on me. He was one I looked to for advice and guidance throughout my doctoral journey and beyond.

    He held a special place in my heart…I was one of the few graduate students who was involved in his search process at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and when he was hired, I was so excited to have him be a part of our faculty. We had some great conversations while I was a student in the program and working full time on campus as an administrator. His words of encouragement and sharing his experiences as an administrator in Higher Ed. provided me the necessary confidence to meet difficult challenges head on and navigate the academy. He was one of my biggest supporters on my dissertation committee and I will never forget his help and belief in me.

    The smile that is captured above in the picture is one that he always had. When the news was shared with me of his passing, his smile was the immediate memory that I had of him…smiling at me when I successfully defended my dissertation.

    Randall, you were a great man, educator, colleague, and mentor. Thank you for having such a positive impact on my life and many others. Cindy, thanks for sharing him with us. Prayers to you and the family.

    I’ll forever be grateful to you Randall. God bless you!
    Lisa Ocañas Pérez

  34. You change my life and I hope you realize what an impact you had on me. I only we could have had one more coffee.

  35. Dr. Bowden gave this brand-new adjunct professor a chance to teach at Tarleton. Thanks to the pandemic, we never met face-to-face, however he was always available to me whenever I needed him. He was always graceful, but funny. My heart sank when I heard the news. Meeting him, albeit brief and virtual, was indeed a blessing. Thank you Dr. Bowden for all that you’ve done for me.

  36. Hello Cindy! I am so sorry about Randall passing. Honey, it was a long fight but you both gave it your best. I have been praying for you both! Stay strong now. I am going through the cancer fight with my husband. It is not easy. Thinking of you always. Love Aunt Kathy

  37. I will always remember your energy, zest for life and “light up the room” smile! Missing you!
    Carmen TD

  38. Our hearts are sadden by the passing of Randall. We could not have asked for a better son-in-law. He was always will to help when we needed it. We will miss his intelligence, wisdom and sense of humor. His stories made us laugh. Randall fought a courageous battle against cancer. He will be sorely missed, but will always be in our hearts. Sis, he could not have asked for a better wife. You were always at his side supporting him from the very beginning when the two of you met and especially when he contracted cancer. Sis, you know you are in our thoughts and prayers as you continue on with your life. We are always there for you.
    All our love,
    Mom & Andy

  39. Randall was such an inspiration and great example for us to live by. He had the best attitude and I’m really going to miss the jokes he always had ready for me when I saw him. His story is powerful and positive and he left a beautiful imprint on this Earth. He will always remain a pleasant memory.

  40. Randall was a true inspiration. He took on many new adventures and excelled at most. I have so many memories of the both of you, but I can’t ever say “15-20 minutes” without thinking of Randall. His was truly a life to be celebrated. Sending love to you!

  41. He was a wonderful friend and a true academic. I will continue to carry him on my heart forever.

  42. Cindy – we never had the opportunity to meet, but your man took me on in a staff position at Colorado Christian University (CCU) after I had served 20 years in The USAF, and truly mentored me, both on staff and in my beginning days of teaching, and was the very first to teach me fly-fishing (my favorite hobby in addition to my grandkids).
    He walked right beside me in many leadership roles and had confidence in my abilities. When I heard of his passing this evening, from a former colleague, I sunk in disbelief that this great man was already sitting with The Father in Heaven. As many have said, his smiles were contagious and his skills in leadership and teaching will go on for a long time for those of us that had him as a teacher and friend . I am forever grateful for Randall and prayers will continue for you and the family in your loss and Heavens gain. Mike Byrd

  43. Searching the internet this morning to check on the man who changed my life. Dr. Bowden Chaired my dissertation committee in 2016 and was the reason I succeeded in the EdD program at TAMUCC. Dr. Bowden refused to give up on me, believed in me when I had doubts, and served as a pillar of strength in my life. I will always be grateful to have known such a passionate educator. He will be sorely missed.

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