Dr. D. Kim Bowman, ’64, and her mother, Inez, ’41, share many things in common.

They both love teaching. Inez Bowman, now 97, educated elementary students during her career in the 1940s. Kim, 72, is an associate professor of modern languages at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

They are both world travelers. Inez’s late husband and Kim’s father, former Missouri State University Dean of Students Homer Bowman, was an Army colonel whose posts moved the family to Germany and Italy. Kim has since lived in various locations including Mexico and Spain.

And now, both are Missouri State Golden Bears, a group for all alumni who graduated from, or attended, Missouri State 50 or more years ago.

Inez graduated from then-Southwest Missouri State Teachers College in 1941 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. Kim followed her 23 years later with a bachelor’s in English and French (and later earned several graduate degrees from other institutions).

Inez, a Golden Bear for nearly 25 years, is also a GrandBear, a designation for alumni who received a degree 70 years or more ago or are at least 90 years old.

“It means a lot to me that my mother was a Golden Bear and that I can be one, too,” Kim said. “She always stayed connected with her friends through Golden Bears.”

Inez has fond memories of campus involvement.

“I was a Bruin Booster (the women’s pep squad), and in the F Square Club, a social group.”

Kim was also involved in campus organizations, including student government, French Club, the Delta Phi Kappa honor society and the Alpha Sigma Tau sorority. To her surprise, she was reunited with some of her college pals at her first Golden Bears dinner last year.

“It was amazing, after 50 years, to see them again,” she said. “One of them, I found out, was doing mission work in Central America, so we could get together on some projects.”

Kim’s sister, Jane Bowman Stonner, is also an alumna. After 20 years in the nursing profession, she came back to school to complete her degree. She earned a bachelor’s in nursing in 1993, and now has a master’s and is a nurse practitioner.

She hopes to one day officially join her family in the Golden Bears Club, and has already been to a dozen or so of the group’s annual luncheons. She’s enjoyed seeing the reconnections Inez and Kim have been able to make.

“Mother has had former second-grade students join the ranks of the Golden Bears, and she has certainly enjoyed visiting with them. She knew (notable alumnus and late staff member) Don Payton personally and always loved his trips down memory lane. She is an amazing woman and a loyal Bear!”

Jane will be 93 by the time she’s eligible for the Golden Bears in 2043, and maybe she and Kim will share one more thing in common with their mother: a long life filled with many more Bears gatherings.

As Kim said: “I’m looking forward to more connections.”

Who are the Golden Bears?

This program recognizes all alumni who graduated from, or attended, what is now Missouri State University 50 or more years ago.

Golden Bears are invited annually to a meal and program in their honor during Homecoming weekend.