Kansas Wrestling Forums General Discussion High School The passing of a great man...

Early Thursday morning, I received a phone call and learned of the passing of my close friend Kurt Bowman. However, to me and the rest of our Hillsboro Wrestling Family, it was more then just the loss of a friend. To many of us, Kurt was a role model, an inspiration, a man of character & integrity, a person you could trust, and a friend to everyone that met him... he was also our Head Middle School Wrestling coach and my assistant coach for the high school team.

Kurt was a multi-sport athlete and graduate of Colby High School. He has taught and/or coached football, wrestling, and track over the years at Smith Center, Oberlin, Canta-Galva, and Hillsboro High School. He has worked beside many fine coaches across the state, but more importantly, he has influenced the lives of many young men and women that he has taught or coached.

For those that knew him, you will understand when I say we lost an amazing man and member of our wrestling family this week. For those that never met him, I am sorry that you never had that chance. Although he has been slowed for a number of years due to physical disabilities, his ability to teach, encourage, coach, captivate, & motivate young people never faultered.

RIP Coach Bowman...you will be greatly missed by many!

Until we meet again...

I knew Kurt personally ... an outstanding man.

Thoughts and prayers go to the Bowman family. He was a GREAT man!

Kurt was indeed a great man. He was a very talented and blessed man who used his blessings to encourage others and make this world a better place. His family and mine have been friends for many years. My kids call his mom, Grandma Connie and his late father, Grandpa J. His mom will always be one of Kansas wrestling's number one fans.

It was indeed a privilege to know him and watch him work with kids. Even in the midst of all his family's health problems over the past year or so, he kept a great outlook and great sense of humor. At Regionals this year, he laughingly told me everything his family was going through at that time would make for a great country song.

His life, love for the Lord and attitudes will inspire wrestlers and young men and women for long after he's left this earth. He was certainly an inspiration to me, my wife, my son and daughters. This will certainly be a very difficult time for his family and we will be keeping them in our loving prayers.