Babe Ruth League President/CEO, Ron Tellefsen said, "(Dub) Bowen, was elected to the Hall of Fame this month for dedication to youth baseball, and for being the prime mover of the league's growth in the state (Alabama)." Ron also states that Bowen's active years as a State Commissioner were some of Babe Ruth League's best support. A position Bowen maintained from 1961 until 1980.
Bowen attended Holmes Junior College on a football scholarship. Although, through his working years, Bowen played outfield and first base in an amateur baseball league, and umpired local baseball games. It was in 1956, officials for the national Babe Ruth Baseball Organization asked Bowen to put together a league in Alabama. This began his 26-year dedication to Babe Ruth Baseball.
Dub played a large part in the growth of the program in the Mobile area and across the country. He watched Babe Ruth develop from 14 to 70 leagues over the course of his participation. During his years with the league, Bowen served on its international board of directors, and attended many Babe Ruth World Series games with his wife of 45 years, Eileen. Holding a title on the board enabled Bowen to achieve his life-long goal of traveling to Alaska.
Bowen was the first person from Bessemer to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, and the second Alabamian to receive the honor. His achievement brought about many other honors. Bowen was inducted into Mobile City's Youth Baseball Hall of Fame in the early 1970's. He's received awards from the Bessemer YMCA, and his junior college, honored as a part of the alumni.
Bowen's interest in youth and efforts to establish Babe Ruth Baseball in Alabama earned him the election. His hard work ethic is reflected in his character, and started at a young age. He was able to provide something never available to himself, "We did it on a ball field or a cow pasture. We'd make plates. We'd pick up something for bases, like a board or a rock or anything. We didn't know what baseball shoes were. We played barefoot or in tennis shoes. I loved it (baseball), because it was right down my alley."