Bill Bowers starred for the Marauders on the track and in cross country before becoming one of the most successful track coaches in Lancaster-Lebanon League history.
Bowers competed in an era when the track team competed in dual meets and before it was possible to qualify for the NCAA Championships, but he made his mark nonetheless. He became the Marauders’ top 440-yard runner as a sophomore and went on to win the event in 24 of 27 career dual meets. He was undefeated in the event during his junior and senior seasons and established a school record in all three years.
Bowers also anchored the mile relay to 25 wins in three years and new school records each year. This relay team posted two third and one second-place finish at the Penn Relays and three runner-up finishes at the PSAC Championships. He was the first Marauder to run a split of under 50 seconds and also the first to run under 49 seconds.
He competed in the 440-yard hurdles for three years and also ran in the 220- and 880-yard events. His 440-yard relay team broke the school record twice.
At the 1969 PSAC Track and Field Championships, Bowers was named Outstanding Track Performer of the Year after leading the Marauders to their first-ever PSAC track championship. In a 30-hour window, he competed in eight races including three 440-yard runs and three 440-yard hurdles. He ran a leg on the winning 440-yard relay team and placed second in the 440 with a school record time. His 55.7 in the 440-yard hurdles was good for first place and another school record. He also anchored the mile relay team with to first place with a sub-49 second split. He compiled an impressive 22.5 points.
As a team captain in 1968 and 1969, Bowers and Millersville posted a 16-1 dual meet record including 16 consecutive victories. When he graduated, he owned two individual school records and was a part of four relay records. He was the first recipient of the Joe Wilt Award for outstanding performance in track and field.
Bowers graduated with a bachelor’s of science in biology and comprehensive science in secondary education in 1969 and taught at Lower Dauphin Junior High for two years, serving as the assistant track coach both years and head cross country coach in his second year.
He then joined the faculty at Hempfield High School, where, in 1972 he became the head coach of the boys cross country team. He led his teams to a 545-84 record until his retirement in 2004. His teams won four Lancaster-Lebanon League Championships, three District III titles and finished as the PIAA Runner-Up twice. He was an assistant track coach at Millersville from 1972 to 1975, after which time he took over the girls’ track program at Hempfield. His girls’ teams record posted a 189-32-2 mark and won an incredible 10 Lancaster-Lebanon League Championships, including an unprecedented five in a row. He also established the girls’ cross country program at Hempfield in 1976 and led it to a 376-66 record, nine league titles and two District III crowns. Three times he was recognized as the league’s coach of the year.
Bowers is responsible for the present PIAA Cross Country Championship qualifying system. He was also one of the driving forces to establish a Lancaster-Lebanon League Cross Country Coaches Association in 1991 where he served as secretary-treasurer, then VP, then President. He was selected as the coach of the Southeast Region Track and Field Team at the inaugural Keystone State Games. In 1989, Bowers was awarded the Franklin Circle National High School Coaching Award for superlative performance and dedication to the student athlete. Upon his retirement in 2004, he was awarded the Career Achievement Award by the Lancaster-Lebanon League Cross Country Coaches Association.
He taught science for two years at Lower Dauphin and 33 years at Hempfield. He and his wife, Julie, are the parents of three daughters: Michelle, Shaaron, and Mandy. They also have five grandchildren: Teddy, Jordan, Ashleigh, Zoe, and Colin.
