Legendary Howard High School basketball coach Henry Bowles passed away early Sunday morning after a lengthy illness, surrounded by family, including his wife of more than 50 years Joyce Anne. He was 80 years old.
Bowles coached at his alma mater for 39 years, including 29 as boys' basketball coach, compiling a 616-260 overall record. He guided the Hustlin' Tigers to the state tournament 16 times, finishing as runners-up twice (1972, 1984). At the time of his resignation in 1998 he had the second-most wins in state history.
"If I had a second life, I would play under him again," said Dank Hawkins, who played point guard at Howard from 1974-76. "Besides my father, Coach Bowles was a personal role model for me. He was so structured and disciplined, exactly what most young men need. He spent more time with us kids who played for him than he did his own family.
"God chooses some people for certain jobs. He was chosen to coach."
Noted for the burgundy sports jacket he wore on the sideline, Coach Bowles' teams won 13 district championships, including a 62-game district winning streak in the 1980s, and 10 region titles. He averaged 23 wins over his career and was inducted into the TSSAA Hall of Fame in 2003.
The old Howard gym was named in his honor and when the school built a new gym, that honor was carried over.
"If they had a Mt. Rushmore of coaches in Tennessee High School, he'd be on it," said Baylor coach Austin Clark. "Not just for wins, but for how he took care of his players and how he treated others. He was a true southern gentleman and a competitor.
"When I started coaching (in 1982) you had the Henry Bowles and Robert Highs in the city, real icons in Chattanooga. He mentored me and he was one of my true friends. My heart goes out to him and his family."