| John W. Bowen | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Ohio Senate from the 15th district |
|
| In office January 3, 1967-December 31, 1970 |
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| Preceded by | District Created |
| Succeeded by | Jerry O'Shaughnessy |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Republican |
John W. Bowen is a Republican politician who formerly served in the Ohio Senate. A veteran of World War II and an attorney, Bowen initially ran for the Ohio Senate in 1966, following the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Opposed by Jerry O'Shaughnessy, Bowen ultimately won the race by only 240 votes.[1] With his victory, he was the first African American elected as a legislator from Franklin County.
In 1970, Bowen was up for reelection, and O'Shaughnessy opted for a rematch. However, this time, Bowen was defeated, limiting his time as a legislator to one term, or four years. He subsequently returned to private practice as a lawyer in the Columbus area. In 1978, Ohio Governor James Rhodes appointed Bowen to a seat on the Ohio Board of Regents, which is responsible for higher education.[2] He would serve on the board until 1982.
Following his stint on the Board of Regents, he returned again to private practice. He has since retired in Columbus.[3]