Robert W. Bowles, former chair of the department of health and physical education and the former director of alumni affairs at Alcorn State University in Mississippi, died at Memorial Hospital in Gulfport, Mississippi, on May 17. He was 75 years old.
Dr. Bowles began his career at Alcorn State in 1970, when he was appointed the inaugural director of the Office of Alumni Affairs. He served in that role until 1976. He then was university registrar and taught in the department of health and physical education until 1988. Dr. Bowles also served as deputy and interim superintendent of the Biloxi Public School District.
Dr. Bowles was a 1966 graduate of what was then Alcorn A&M College. He held a master’s degree from North Carolina Central University and an educational doctorate in administration and supervision from Kansas State University.