Ron and Linda Bowen Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Engineering

The Ron and Linda Bowen Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Engineering was established by the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System on July 12, 2010, to benefit the Cockrell School of Engineering. Dr. Linda L. Bowen and Mr. Ronald R. Bowen donated funding for this endowment because Ron’s education at the School of Engineering formed the foundation upon which his family built their own succesful lives. Creating this endowment provided the Bowens anopportunity to give back to the University, in hopes that young engineers of the future will enjoy the same joy in their lives and work that they have.

Ron Bowen moved to Austin in 1960 while in the 8th grade. Since then he has been a Longhorn fan. After graduating high school in 1966, Ron joined the U.S. Navy and served for seven years aboard nuclear submarines. His fellow seamen nicknamed him “BEVO.”

Ron married Linda in Austin in 1971. After Ron completed his Navy service, the couple returned to Austin where Ron enrolled in the mechanical engineering program at The University of Texas under the GI Bill. Linda enrolled to begin her degree in sociology. Their first son was born while Ron was in the Navy, and their second son was born at St. David’s Hospital in Austin while they were in the University.

They lived in married student housing in the old wooden barracks near Deep Eddy and were extremely grateful to have this low-cost option, and the use of UT buses to get to school. Ron worked nights and attended class during the day, completing his BS in mechanical engineering in December 1976. By then Linda completed most of her requirements for a BA in sociology, and Ron accepted an offer to work for Exxon. Linda went on to earn her PhD in psychology. She worked for UCLA and had a private practice until her retirement in 2010.

Linda has given back to the community through many medical missionary trips as a clinical psychologist, providing hands-on care throughout Africa and in Haiti. Ron worked with Exxon for 33 years, achieving more than 20 worldwide patents on multiple engineering applications. He retired as the chief process engineer in 2010.

Ron and Linda remain active in University of Texas programs and are avid Longhorn fans. Though they are retired, the couple lives at their ranch, “LJRanch,” near Weimar, Texas, with their 5-year-old grandson, Jaden Ray Bowen, where they raise registered Brahman cattle and American Quarter Horses. Jaden has attended every home Longhorn football game since he was born and many away games as well. He is already a devoted Longhorn fan and, the Bowens hope, a future UT student.