Cecil Leon Bowman

"What's happenin', brother?" This is the statement you would hear if you called Leon Bowman on the phone. He was always anxious to talk with his friends and family. We lost our treasured husband, father, grandfather and friend on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.

Cecil Leon Bowman was born to the late Willard and Hallie Bowman on June 16, 1945, in Fort Worth, Texas.

Leon is a proud Polytechnic Parrot from the Poly High School Class of 1963. He received a scholarship from Ranger Junior College and went on to Texas Wesleyan University. Leon Received his Master's degree from East Texas College. He was a teacher and coach for basketball, football, and golf at Nolan High, Bailey Junior High, Poly High, Sam Houston High, Arlington Heights, James Bowie High, James Martin High, and Assistant Principal at Sam Houston High in the Arlington and Fort Worth area. Leon completed his career in Texas as principal of Red Oak High School.

His summer months were spent working and counseling with abused youth at camps. Leon taught integrity and helped students frame their lives. A favorite statement of his was "... the elevator to success is broken, so you will have to take the stairs." Leon retired at age 52 and began his golfing life with his family and friends. His early career included working at Six Flags in the summer when he met his first wife, Mary Lee Brown. They married and had 2 children, Clifford and Cindy. They were members of University Baptist Church, where he was superintendent for their Sunday School class.

In 2003, Leon made a phone call to his high school sweetheart, Kathleen Crenshaw. They married and Leon moved to Italy where she was a teacher for Department of Defense Schools at Camp Darby, Italy. Leon worked for Central Texas College and Emery Riddle Aeronautical University on the military base. He also worked as their Athletic Director with the youth program. They loved traveling together across Europe by train and car, exploring historic sites with family and friends, and his favorite story was a winter road trip through five countries from Italy to Germany to visit Heather and the grandchildren. He enjoyed meeting new people as he always had a story to tell. He cherished being a Papa to his grandchildren, and they, too, have many stories to tell.

Leon made an impact on so many young people and treasured his close friendships with many ex-students and old high school friends. Leon would say, "Well, I won't keep you - just wanted to check to see how you are doing." 

Cecil Leon Bowman is survived by his loving wife of 22 years, Kathleen; his son, Cliff Bowman, and his wife, T, and their daughter, Tatum; His daughter, Cindy Harbison, and her husband, Michael; his stepdaughter, Heather Hall; his grandson, Maguire Ward; his granddaughter, Myah Dale Shira, and her husband, Griffin; His brother-in-law, Tom Whitley; his nephew, Michael Whitley, and his wife, Sherri; and many beloved cousins.

Our family wants to thank the staff of Texas Health Oncology, Baylor Scott and White, Guardian Home Health, and the VITAS Hospice Unit for their compassion, prayers, and loving care during Leon's courageous fight with cancer.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or the Ronald McDonald House of Fort Worth.