HR434: Celebrating the life of Alphonso Hugo Bowers, Jr.


HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 434
Celebrating the life of Alphonso Hugo Bowers, Jr.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 24, 2023

 

WHEREAS, Alphonso Hugo Bowers, Jr., an experienced and highly admired contractor who promoted the inclusion of Black-owned businesses in government building projects, died on December 10, 2022; and

WHEREAS, a native of Clarksville, Alphonso “Al” Hugo Bowers, Jr., acquired sound knowledge of construction and valuable skills from his father, a carpenter, and his grandfather, a brick mason; and

WHEREAS, Al Bowers graduated from Virginia Union University, where he excelled in mathematics, was a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and helped lead the golf team to three Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association conference championships in the 1960s; and

WHEREAS, after college, Al Bowers worked for Burlington Industries as a computer analyst; he met his wife, Marva, in North Carolina in 1972 and ultimately changed his career to construction after they built a house together; in 1975, he started a construction firm in Greensboro that was one of the first Black-owned companies to undertake a subdivision project in the area; and

WHEREAS, Al Bowers and his family moved to Richmond in 1992; he worked at a car dealership for a time before returning to construction along with three of his children, operating several businesses under Bowers Family Enterprises, LLC; and

WHEREAS, among many significant projects, Al Bowers developed the 70-home subdivision known as Randolph West for the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority in 2005; at the time, it was the largest project the agency had ever awarded to a Black-owned company; and

WHEREAS, throughout his career, Al Bowers strove to ensure that other Black-owned businesses received subcontracts, and he promoted the importance of diversity and inclusion in the construction field as a member of the Central Virginia Business and Construction Association and the Black Business Alliance of Virginia; and

WHEREAS, in 2014, Al Bowers served on a task force organized by Governor Robert F. McDonnell to study and recommend solutions to increase the inclusion of Black-owned businesses in state construction contracts; and

WHEREAS, Al Bowers will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife, Marva; his children, Farrah, Alphonso III, Dawn, Sean, Travis, Julian, Laio, and Katina, and their families; his mother, Virginia; and numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Delegates hereby note with great sadness the loss of Alphonso Hugo Bowers, Jr., a highly respected leader in the construction industry who made many contributions to the Richmond community; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Alphonso Hugo Bowers, Jr., as an expression of the House of Delegates’ respect for his memory.

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 434

Offered February 23, 2023
Celebrating the life of Alphonso Hugo Bowers, Jr.

Patrons-- McQuinn, Bagby, Guzman, Kory, Lopez, Maldonado, Rasoul, Reid, Ware and Willett

WHEREAS, Alphonso Hugo Bowers, Jr., an experienced and highly admired contractor who promoted the inclusion of Black-owned businesses in government building projects, died on December 10, 2022; and

WHEREAS, a native of Clarksville, Alphonso “Al” Bowers acquired sound knowledge of construction and valuable skills from his father, a carpenter, and his grandfather, a brick mason; and

WHEREAS, Al Bowers graduated from Virginia Union University, where he excelled in mathematics, was a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and helped lead the golf team to three Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association conference championships in the 1960s; and

WHEREAS, after college, Al Bowers worked for Burlington Industries as a computer analyst; he met his wife, Marva, in North Carolina in 1972 and ultimately changed his career to construction after they built a house together; in 1975, he started a construction firm in Greensboro that was one of the first Black-owned companies to undertake a subdivision project in the area; and

WHEREAS, Al Bowers and his family moved to Richmond in 1992; he worked at a car dealership for a time before returning to construction along with three of his children, operating several businesses under Bowers Family Enterprises, LLC; and

WHEREAS, among many significant projects, Al Bowers developed the 70-home subdivision known as Randolph West for the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority in 2005; at the time, it was the largest project the agency had ever awarded to a Black-owned company; and

WHEREAS, throughout his career, Al Bowers strove to ensure that other Black-owned businesses received subcontracts, and he promoted the importance of diversity and inclusion in the construction field as a member of the Central Virginia Business and Construction Association and the Black Business Alliance of Virginia; and

WHEREAS, in 2014, Al Bowers served on a task force organized by Governor Bob McDonnell to study and recommend solutions to increase the inclusion of Black-owned businesses in state construction contracts; and

WHEREAS, Al Bowers will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his wife, Marva; his children, Farrah, Alphonso III, Dawn, Sean, Travis, Julian, Laio, and Katina, and their families; his mother, Virginia; and numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Delegates hereby note with great sadness the loss of Alphonso Hugo Bowers, Jr., a highly respected leader in the construction industry who made many contributions to the Richmond community; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Alphonso Hugo Bowers, Jr., as an expression of the House of Delegates’ respect for his memory.