Tampa Bay Times from St. Petersburg, Florida • 15

"Remembering Tampa State tampabay.com for more local and state news BB I Friday, November 30, 2007 I St. Petersburg Times Richard "Dick" Bowers I 1930-2007 MEMORIALS AND TRIBUTES PINELLAS ISF sports' prime bite ies As athletic director, he built the school's first teams and many facilities, such as the Sun Dome. Pass on memories Find a link to a guest fc book where readers can post thoughts and memories at obits.tampabay.com. STATE FAIR continued from IB Hispanic culture on display ture seemed a natural place to begin, Shreaves said, because a strong I lispanic influence exists in the area and across the state. About 19.5 percent of Florida's population is of I lispanic or Latino origin, according to the US.

Census Bureau. "Florida is not only cracker country. It's also a lot of Latin villages," said La GaceUi publisher Patrick Manteiga. "The biggest cities in our state have heavy Latin influence. Miami is the capita of Latin America." Richard "Dick" Bower has been called "a tremendous ambassador" for USF.

BV REBECCA CATALANEUO AND CR8Q AUMAN Timn Stuff Writer TAMPA Forty-four years ago, Richard "Dick" Bowers arrived at the University of South Florida to teach physical education at the fledgling Tampa campus. But those who knew Mr. Bowers, who died Thursday at age 77, say that what he accomplished between his 1963 arrival and 2003 retirement shaped the very fabric of the university. As athletics director from 1966 to 1983, he helped establish the school's basketball program, he introduced soccer as the school's first sport and oversaw construction of USF's baseball field, golf course and the Sun Dome. "He's as fine a man as I've ever met," said Eddie Cardieri, USF's baseball coach from 1986 to 2006.

He was "a tremendous ambassador" for USF, he said. Born in Nashville, Mr. Bowers played basketball at the University of Tennessee, where he earned bachelor's and master's degrees. He met his wife, Madge, at King College in Bristol, Tenn. And he received his doctorate at Vanderbilt University.

ketball coach from 1980-86, knew Mr. Bowers when they helped create the Sun Belt Conference in 1976. Mr. Bowers recruited Rose in 1980, the year he led Purdue to the Final Four. "I remember he said, 'There are probably three or four tilings that will come to mind as to why you might not take this and then he pulled out a yellow note pad," Rose said.

"He said, 'I've got 50 reasons here why you should take the job. Do we need to go over all of Known for his winning smile and artful fundraising skills, Mr. Bowers later became the director of development for the Museum of Science and Industry. He was also a retired U.S. Army captain and a former Ful-bright lecturer in Burma.

He served 18 years as president of the Gold Shield Foundation, which raises money for families of fallen police and firefighters. "He was just good at rattling the tin cup," said golfing buddy and Gold Shield executive director Joe Voskerician, who called him "an unsung hero." Even after retiring, Mr. Bowers remained a fixture at USF. Just Saturday, USF lobbyist Kathy Betancourt recalled, Mr. Bowers had been cutting up with her before a Bulls basketball team.

"Everybody's uncle and father," she said, he was a mentor to generations. Madge Bowers said her husband died after complaining he wasn't feeling well, and doctors said he suffered an aneurism in his Temple Terrace home. Despite all the credit heaped on him Thursday, Madge Bowers said her husband's most memorable saying was one of humility: "You can do a lot of good in this world, if you don't care who gets the credit" Besides his wife, Mr. Bowers is survived by his son, Rick, a USF graduate, a daughter, Delisa, and two grandchildren ages 8 and 11. Visitation will be Sunday from 5 p.m.

to 8 p.m. at Terrace Oaks Chapel, 12690 56th St. in Temple Terrace. Services are Monday at 11 a.m. at Temple Terrace United Methodist Church, 5030 E.

Busch Blvd. In 1963, he came to Tampa from Connecticut, where both Bowers had been teaching. Madge Bowers said her husband loved all spoils, especially golf, basketball and baseball. In their 48 years of marriage, she said, her husband remained the consummate "southern gentleman," her "white knight" "I le was probably the best guy I ever knew," she said. Former USF president Betty Castor said Mr.

Bowers artfully and quietly cultivated university athletics at a time when some feared that athletics might overshadow the school's academic focus. "I Ie had a tough hand that was dealt to him and he played it very well," Castor said. In 1976, Mr. Bowers hired Hall of Fame pitcher Robin Roberts as USF's baseball coach, and Roberts stayed in that role for a decade, until his retirement. Lee Rose, the USF men's bas STEFFAN JAMES JOHNSON I I Stef it has now Xjjt been 6 years since I jrh that dreadful day that will never be r4 forgotten by so many loved ones, a day that brought tears to many eyes.

I know you are in a much different place now, one that is void of sadness and sorrow. Your mother, brother and I along with other family members and many, many friends miss you so very much. You have left many lives touched by the love and joy you shared. Missed is that ability you had to bring laughter and happiness to just about everyone you knew at some time or another. The radiance and glow that you brought into a room when you entered is now merely a memory.

Gone is that incredible smile and sense of humor. Your perpetual uplifting positive attitude is probably missed most by your brother. I don't think a day goes by that he doesn't miss and need you. It's been very difficult for most of us to come to terms with such a tragic loss and each of us are dealing or in many cases struggling with it the best we can. The world has lost an amazing young man who would do anything for anyone, unconditionally.

There are several new additions to the family that have come to know you by the wonderful stories that we share with them about your life. Now you know Debbie and I'm sure she has told you about the wonderful family that has brightened my slightly dimmed world. You also now have a beautiful little niece, Elleah. Unfortunately, she will never really know the love and charm that Uncle Stef would have brought into her life. Dylan misses his Uncle Stef as well, without fail Uncle Stef is sure to be included in his prayers every single night.

It has been six years now that sadly you left us all. Thankfully we have very fond memories to warm our hearts and souls and to help us face the future as life must go on. We are so proud to have two wonderfully great sons. You were blessed in so many ways. We are grateful for the shared time, shared memories and shared joy these precious things will keep you close forever.

We all sure do miss you and know you and Debbie are smiling down on us missing us too. It's all good so go easy bull! Love Tim, Mom, Dad, Dylan, "They lost everything. Wlienyou see what they've lost, It is truly amazing." Kathy McNabb, American Red Cross casework supervisor. I le was one of the leaders in the Hispanic community who consulted with the fair authority about La Plaza 1 lispanic Village. "We and others have complained over the years that the state fair and Strawberry Festival have been stuck in the same entertainment for years," Manteiga said.

"All country music. The same food. I think it's fantastic that the state fair has stepped out like this and decided to embrace the community's diver-sityT Manteiga and Gonzalez said they would like the Florida Strawberry Festival to provide a similar offering for Hispanics. "I think if such a shame and such a disgrace that the people at the Strawberry Festival don't recognize them," Gonzalez said. '1 think ifs atrocious the way they neglect the population there, which is a more rural population and more dependent on Latinos." Patsy Brooks, general manager for the Florida Strawberry Festival, said they have offered at least one night of entertainment featuring Hispanic acts.

In 2003, the festival spent $10,000 on a Tex-Mexican group, but few people showed. She said she has tried to coordinate something smaller with Manteiga's help, but has been unsuccessful in getting feedback and making plans for next year. Meanwhile, the state fair is taking applications for vendors and exhibitors at its La Plaza Hispanic Village. Organizers also are looking for performers. 'Ifs going to be an expression of fun, an expression of community, and I applaud the state fair for taking the lead and doing something like this," Gonzalez said.

Kevin Graham can be reached at kgraham sptimes.com or 813) 226-3433. mmi I i-rt i i i i i 1 Hid, 1 1 i -T -it iiiiiiaiih Trr 1 GAPT. BILL WADE I Tampa Fire Department Hillsborough County firefighters work to extinguish the blaze at the Lakeshore Club Apartments and Townhouses on Thursday morning. Investigators said a resident's malfunctioning electronics was to blame for the fire, which caused more than $700,000 in building damages and $100,000 in residents' property losses. "It was a pretty extensive fire," said Fire Rescue Capt.

Bruce Delk. "It was just fortunate that there was no one in there when it happened. They would have been injured or worse." Shari, Melissa, Rebecca, Elleah, Grandma and Grandpa Foltz, Grandma and Grandpa Harder, Bubbe and Poppa, all of your Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and your many friends. BLAZE continued from IB Waters Rd. Apartment fire displaces 43 Lakeshore Club apartments Hispanic flavor The Florida State Fair runs from Feb.

7-18. Applications for food vendors and exhibitors to participate in the inaugural La Plaza Hispanic Village are due by Monday. To obtain an application or for information, call Denise Shreaves at (813) 627-4314 or e-mail shreavd doacs.state.fl.us The fair also is looking for Hispanic entertainers, musicians, dancers and local community groups to perform at La Plaza Hispanic Village. Interested parties can send a performance video or music CD with contact information to the Florida State Fair, Attention: Denise Shreaves, P.O. Box TI766, Tampa, FL 33680.

No deadline for entertainer submissions has been set Contact Shreaves for details. i taw. Lambright St 14 mile QAru HILLS. Times Hillsborough Ave. Source: ESRI Thursday's fire was the second major blaze at the complex.

1999 fire at the community, then known as the Carlton Arms Egypt Lake Apartments, destroyed 12 units in building 23 and did more than $500,000 damage. It also wasn't the first time that an apartment building without attic fire walls suffered heavy damage. A 2002 fire ravaged eight units at the Charleston Landings apartments in Brandon. Like the Lakeshore Club, Charleston Landings was built before the fire code made complex's other buildings. The fire scene was total destruction, said Kathy McNabb, an American Red Cross casework supervisor.

"They lost everything," she added. "When you see what they've lost it is truly amazing." Lakeshore Club's management company, Harbour Realty Advisors made other apartments on the property available to fire victims, McNabb said. Beds, food and clothes were being gathered and handed out to residents in their new units. When the first wave of firefighters arrived, flames had already engulfed the roof, Delk said. They had difficulty opening the top cap of one fire hydrant, but it didn't affect firefighting efforts, he said.

The complex's fire hydrants were inspected in January by a private contractor, said Kaplan. In April, Hillsborough fire inspectors reviewed the contractor's inspection reports and found no problems at the building that burned Thursday. Kaplan said there were only minor fire violations found in some of the attic fire walls mandatory. Jared Leone can be reached at jleonesptimes.cotn or 813) 269-5314. Researcher John Martin contributed to this teport.

LAYOFFS continued from IB Latest round of layoffs has City Council questioning mayor Share your memories of a special friend or loved one. Add music, text, your own voice, and photos to create a special Moving Tributes tampabay.comobits mission, which now consists solely of county commissioners. Iorio's letter came after the council voted unanimously to ask lawmakers to reconfigure the EPC so that Tampa would have seats on the board. Iorio's implication that she speaks for the city prompted charges from council members that the mayor overstepped the authority granted her by the city charter. Janrt 7.mk can hr athnl at lnnktfi to review budgetary matters, including those proposed by the mayor.

That will be part of a larger discussion scheduled for early next year to clarify what powers the city charter grants to the mayor and the council. Iorio irked council members this year by sending a letter to Hillsborough County's state lawmakers saving "the city" didn't support changing the makeup of the Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Com the city had high-paying jobs. Those with lower pay found themselves out of work, Stevens said. Now, even more low-paid workers face the same fate. "Every time there's a cut, it's cut from the bottom.

Cut some of the fat from the top," Stevens said. Janitorial workers earn about $31,000 a year, and security workers earn about $36,000. "We just feel that the money th'y're going to save can be done some other wav other than Janitorial and security are already mostly privatized. Iorio said, and her approach will save the city money without having an impact on services provided to residents. Employees will have six months to find other work.

"We're treating everyone with a great deal of respect." Iorio said. The City Council on Thursday also agreed to explore contracting with a b'udget analyst and setting up a citizens group laying off these people," Stevens said. Iorio said Thursday it's appropriate to brief the council on the plan, but more layoffs are inevitable given the likelihood of more property tax cuts that will reduce the city's revenue. "If they're not willing to accept these cost savings, there will be other cost savings that will be made through the same process we made last year, which Is going through the organization and eliminating positions." she said. tunics? lr tfr km In the Times, tamp bay.