Dudley Bowker, or "D-Man" as I call him, is another wonderful person with whom I play senior softball and is part of the "greatest generation".

Dudley developed a love for aviation as a child hearing or reading the exploits of Amelia Earhart, Wiley Post and others. In 1943 at the age of 16 he soloed and obtained a student pilot license. He earned the money to obtain it by doing odd jobs around the local airports.

Like many young men at the time Dudley enlisted in the Navy in 1945 before finishing high school. The war ended soon after and he was assigned to fly radio control target drones(like model airplanes) for gunners on the battleship Wyoming.This started a love for model airplanes that continues today.
I have great admiration for people of Dudley's generation who left H.S. to serve and then made a successful transition to get on with their life. After working in the aircraft market he became president and CEO of a small savings bank retiring in 1993. Active in retirement he has been involved with our softball league and was on an airport commission for 8 years.

There was a situation that happened to Dudley that would bring tears of joy to any aviation collector. One day at the bank a person offered Dudley a massive collection of aviation models, pictures, letters, catalogs and other memorabilia from the 1920-1930s in excellent condition. I have seen it and it is one of the nicest collections I have ever seen. We are always going out looking for items and this collection came to him!

Dudley considers himself an average softball player, but it is his spirit and desire to play that makes him a pleasure to know and be associate with.

Thanks "D-Man".

Good Picking! Jared