Charles “Charlie” & Coralea “Corky” Bowerman, both raised in Alamo, Indiana were wed on June 12, 1960. After attending Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana, Charlie was introduced to Phillips Petroleum Company and invited to Bartlesville to work for the company and play basketball for the Phillips 66ers. During his time playing professional basketball from 1961 to 1964, Charlie traveled the world visiting various countries in the Middle East, South America and Eastern Europe. His basketball success earned him induction in the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995.
In 1964, Charlie started his marketing career. From 1964 to 1980 the family moved several before settling in Bartlesville, and they have resided here since then. Charlie held several marketing and managerial positions with Phillips Petroleum Company before being elected to the Board of Directors in 1988 and retiring in 1999.
Both Charlie and Corky have always been active in the Bartlesville community. Charlie served on the boards of the local Boy Scouts, Boys & Girls Club and Jane Phillips Hospital, as well as being a member of the local Masonic Lodge. Corky has been instrumental to many causes throughout Bartlesville beginning with involvement in the Principal’s council and Booster Club while their three daughters attended school. She has served as president of the Service League and PEO Chapter AW. The YWCA, Little Theater, Ballet Guild and Symphony Society have all benefitted from her service. She is currently a board member for the Boys & Girls Club of Bartlesville and serves on their Capital Campaign Committee with Charlie. Both Corky and Charlie are active members of First United Methodist Church and have served on several committees.
Charlie and Corky played key roles in founding the Bartlesville Community Foundation, volunteering many hours to help with everything from establishing funds to securing office furniture. They have also generously donated to the Foundation through its formative years. “I can’t imagine the Foundation would have continued to exist without Charlie and Corky’s commitment of time, talent, and treasure,” notes Executive Director Shawn Crawford. Charlie continues to serve on the Board of Directors for the Foundation.
Charlie and Corky have three daughters and sons-in-law, Cynthia and Paul Dean, Cristina and Darren Lister, and Candace and Jeff Morris, as well eight grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Their families all reside in the Bartlesville/Tulsa area.