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Karl S. Bowers

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Karl S Bowers
Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration
In office
August 3, 1978 – January 1980
PresidentJimmy Carter
Preceded byWilliam M. Cox
Succeeded byJohn S. Hassell Jr.
Deputy Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration
In office
June 5, 1977 – August 3, 1978
Personal details
Born(1941-10-13)October 13, 1941
Estill, South Carolina
DiedJanuary 31, 2012(2012-01-31) (aged 70)
SpouseSusan Davis
Children3
EducationVirginia Southern College
Armstrong-College
University of South Carolina

Karl S. Bowers (October 13, 1941 - January 31, 2012), was married and has three children.[1]

He came from a highway background, having served as a South Carolina State Highway Commissioner, 1974 to 1977; Vice Chairman of the State Highway and Public Transportation Commission, 1975; and Chairman of the Commission, 1976. He became the Deputy Federal Highway Administrator in 1977 and served until he took office as Administrator on August 3, 1978, to 1980.[2] He resigned in January 1980.[3]

Under Bowers's tenure, the Federal Highway Administration:

  • Accomplished an enviable record in minority recruitment and hiring and in the promotion of the Minority Business Enterprise Program.[citation needed]
  • Made significant strides towards the Congressional mandate to expedite completion of the Interstate System.
  • Emphasized commitment to rehabilitating and repairing the existing highway network.
  • Reduced the inflationary rate in highway construction during 1979 over the previous year, in the face of serious escalating costs.
  • Accomplished its highest level of obligations in history – $9.3 billion overall, with $8.5 billion for those programs subject to the congressional law.

On January 31, 2012, Karl Bowers died at age 70.[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Biographical Sketch" (PDF). Retrieved 17 July 2024.
  2. ^ Whitnah, Donald Robert (June 13, 1998). U.S. Department of Transportation: A Reference History. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 9780313283406. Retrieved June 13, 2019 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ Brinson, Claudia (March 11, 1980). "Ex-U.S. Highway Administrator Faces Trial in S.C." – via www.washingtonpost.com.
  4. ^ "Karl Smith Bowers Obituary -". Dignity Memorial. Retrieved June 13, 2019.

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from KARL S. BOWERS. United States Department of Transportation.