Archiving Triumphs of the Wilson Textile College
Willie Bowen's Legacy: The Birth of the Wilson College of Textiles' Bookmark Program
Willie Bowen, a native of Rhine, Georgia, and a mill village resident in Rockingham, North Carolina, has left an indelible mark on the Wilson College of Textiles at North Carolina State University (NC State). In 1959, Bowen, then a student at NC State, created the bookmark program for the college.
Born in Georgia, Bowen moved to North Carolina at a young age. After graduating from high school in 1950, he worked in a textile mill. His passion for the industry led him to enroll in the then School of Textiles at NC State University.
Before his final semester at NC State, Bowen received a $500 scholarship from American Enka, a significant sum in 1959 when adjusted for inflation, which would be worth over $5,150 today. This scholarship, along with his hard work at a canteen in the basement of Syme Hall, helped Bowen graduate at the top of his class.
After graduation, Bowen chose to work for the Tennessee Eastman Company, a division of the Eastman Kodak Company, and later served the company's fiber division in Columbia, South Carolina. Despite retiring at the age of 85, Bowen's connection to the Wilson College of Textiles has only strengthened throughout his professional career.
In the spring of 1959, the Wilson College of Textiles' bookmark program was born. The design process involved making at least three four-foot by four-foot designs by hand. The bookmarks, created as a practical tool and a symbol of institutional tradition, likely promoted literacy, engagement with textile education materials, or community connection around the college’s academic and cultural activities.
In 2022, Bowen established the Willie C. Bowen Family Scholarship Endowment through his estate to pay forward the integral support he received from his alma mater. Bowen hopes that his scholarship endowment will help deserving students who are in need of financial aid and will serve as a springboard for their success in the textile industry.
Though detailed historical records or broad academic sources on the program's inception and significance are limited, the program is known to have been a creative and educational tool within the college context. For more precise information or primary sources, contacting the Wilson College of Textiles’ archives or alumni office could be a productive step.
In summary, the Wilson College of Textiles’ bookmark program originated in 1959 under Willie Bowen’s initiative and holds significance as part of the college’s educational culture, functioning as both a practical tool and a symbol of institutional tradition. Despite limited historical accounts, Bowen's creation continues to symbolise the college's mission and heritage among its members.
- Willie Bowen, born in Georgia and raised in a North Carolina mill village, left a lasting impact on the Wilson College of Textiles at NC State by creating the bookmark program in 1959.
- As a student at NC State, Bowen's passion for the textile industry led him to enroll in the School of Textiles, where he later graduated at the top of his class.
- In 1959, Bowen, with his hard work at a canteen in Syme Hall and a scholarship from American Enka, managed to graduate and pursue a career in the textile industry.
- The bookmark program, born in 1959, involved hand-making three four-foot by four-foot designs as both a practical tool and a symbol of institutional tradition.
- In 2022, Bowen established the Willie C. Bowen Family Scholarship Endowment, aiming to help deserving students in need of financial aid and nurturing their success in the textile industry.
- Though records and sources about the bookmark program's inception and significance are limited, contacting the Wilson College of Textiles’ archives or alumni office could provide more information about the program's history and influence.
- The Wilson College of Textiles’ bookmark program, created by Willie Bowen, serves as a symbol of the college's mission, heritage, and commitment to education, self-development, personal growth, and sustainability in the textile and fashion industries.
