David H. Bowman ’63

David H. Bowman ’63 died on August 22, 2023, at his home in Sewanee, Tennessee. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and attended Messick High School, where he was active in track and debating. He graduated from Dartmouth in 1963 on an Alfred P. Sloan scholarship and went on to receive a Ph.D. in English at University of Chicago in 1969. David was an Alumni Fund volunteer, class agent and officer, and newsletter editor (1988-93). After a period in England studying George Bernard Shaw, he returned to the United States, taught at George Washington University, and then taught at Memphis State University for several years. After a period in Costa Rica, David relocated to Huntsville, Alabama, as the final editorial page editor of the Huntsville News and a frequent contributor to the Historic Huntsville Quarterly. David also held teaching positions at Valparaiso University, Vanderbilt University, and the University of Arkansas School of Architecture. He wrote about architecture, urban environment, and historic preservation and his work appeared in Memphis Magazine, Southern Exposure, Mid-South Business, Morning News of Northwest Arkansas, and Nashville’s City Paper. He was the author of several books of fiction and nonfiction. David was a founding member of the Memphis Heritage and cofounder of the Tallulah Bankhead Society and the Sewanee Trust for Historic Preservation. He lived since the early 2000s in Sewanee with his longtime partner, Lee. He is survived by his former wife, Eleanor, four children, and six grandchildren.


Portfolio

Book cover Original Sin with photo of hands over face
Alumni Books
New titles from Dartmouth writers (July/August 2025)
Woman posing with art sculpture
Inspiration in the Adirondacks
Artist Catherine Ross Haskins ’94 transforms an old grain mill into a vibrant arts hub.
Comeback Story

Alumni first returned to campus for official reunions in 1855.

Illustration of woman in movie theater eating popcorn
Katie Silberman ’09
A screenwriter on storytelling in Hollywood

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