Kenneth Francis “Kenny” Bowen was a native of New Orleans, born 9 February 1926. He was the son of Joseph F. and Hazel McNulty Bowen. Kenny Bowen was married to the former Ruth Butcher Bowen, with whom he had fourteen children. At the time of his death, at the age of 76 on 2 May 2002, he was married to Ann Humphries Bowen.

Bowen served in the United States Air Force during World War II and later attended Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now University of Louisiana at Lafayette). He received a Bachelor’s degree in music in 1948. He later attended Columbia University and received a Master’s degree. Bowen taught in the Lafayette Parish School System for eleven years. He was widely known for directing community chorus organizations including the LAGCOE men’s chorus and the popular Soundwaves. From 1955 to 1961 he served as executive vice president of the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce. In 1961 he opened his own advertising firm of Angers, Bowen and Associates.

Bowen was elected mayor of Lafayette in 1972 and served two consecutive terms. He then served a third term from 1992-1996. He began a progressive administration that returned Lafayette to a Mayor-City Council form of government under a new city charter that remained the form of local government under consolidation with Lafayette Parish. He worked on several special projects while he was mayor, including the Camellia Bridge, Convention Center, revitalization of Downtown Lafayette, and the expansion of the Lafayette City Utilities.

He belonged to several city and state organizations. He was president of the Louisiana Municipal Association, member and chairperson of various committees of National League of Cities and U.S. Conference of Mayors and member and director of numerous civic, arts, and patriotic associations. He was awarded the French Legion of Merit and was recognized by the organizations Jaycees, American Business Women’s Association, and Louisiana Garden Club Federation. In January 2002, he was inducted into the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame.