Bowar Received ESA Award

Gary Bowar received the ESA distinguished service award on April 12.

ESA (Epsilon Sigma Alpha) held its awards ceremony where they honored Bowar, presented high school scholarships and honored members of the two Winner chapter for their work in ESA.

Bowar was born and raised in Mitchell. He graduated from Notre Dame High School and went on to attend Carroll College in Helena, Mont, graduating with a B.A. degree in history. He returned to South Dakota in 1964 and enlisted in the Army National Guard for six years. Upon his discharge from active duty, he went to work for the South Dakota Department of Social Services, working in Lake Andes, Yankton and Sioux Falls.

He marred Jan Dotzauer in 1966 and they moved from Sioux Falls to Champaign-Urbana, Ill., where he completed his master’s degree in social work. Upon completion of his degree, they moved to Winner in 1971.

He worked in Winner, Lake Andes, Chamberlain, Martin, Pine Ridge and Mobridge as the district supervisor and Winner office manager of the Department of Social Services. During his employment, he was the on the Winner regional hospital board for 14 years, a social worker designee consultant for the Winner Long Term Care Center and Bennett County Nursing Home. He was a member of the S.D. state employees organization board for 9 years and president of the Winner Chapter of SDSEO for 17 years.

Then Gov. Michael Rounds declared Aug. 9, 2004, as Gary Bowar Day in South Dakota for services he provided to the state and Winner area. Bowar retired in December of 2004 having worked 40 years for the Department of Social Services.

He is currently a member of the Winner DSS permanency planning review team for children in DSS custody as the community representative. He is treasurer of the Tripp County Historical Society and has written two local histories—The history of Winner baseball and Catholic Churches of the past in Tripp County.

Bowar is a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, the Winner Quarterback Club and the Winner Community Playhouse. He is a regular blood donor and has donated 135 times since 1971.

He has been a member of the Winner American Legion for 45 years. As a Legion member is the the post historian, involved in the funeral honor guard for veterans, delivers the military newspapers every two weeks, involved in Labor Day activities and is in charge of the Monday Night football fundraiser.

The Bowars are the parent of two children—Chad of Charlotte, N.C. and Amy of Denver, Colo.