Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Sam Bowman completed his education in Pennsylvania, including an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Penn State University and a graduate Social Work degree from the University of Pittsburgh. Between undergraduate and graduate studies Sam served three years in the U.S. Navy, homeported in Japan.
He moved to Oklahoma City in 1970 to work for Neighborhood Services Organization, a United Way/United Methodist social service agency. For 21 years he served as Executive Director of the organization. He moved to the Oklahoma City Community Foundation in 1994 to serve as a Program Officer.
Since 1970 he has been an active member of both St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church and, for the last three years, Quail Springs United Methodist Church.
Sam was one of the founding members of the Cleveland Neighborhood Association and served as its president two of the first three years. He still lives in the Cleveland Neighborhood.
Sam has two grown daughters and a new grandchild.
Sam has always been actively involved with the Oklahoma City schools, beginning with his girls' enrollment at Sequoyah Elementary through both daughters' senior years at Northwest Classen.
His work with the Oklahoma City Community Foundation has afforded him opportunities for developing new kinds of partnerships between community groups and schools throughout the county.
Sam has served in various public capacities with the City over the past 15 years. He served on the Oklahoma City Planning Commission from 1987 to 1995. He was a member of the OKC Trails Steering Committee from 1996 to 1999. He was Chairman of the OKC Enterprise Committee from 1996 to 2000.
