Coach Bowles

On Sunday, October 20, 2013, all the Liberty Christian School family grieved deeply. Coach Mark Bowles was killed in a motorcycle accident. I couldn't believe it. It wasn't real. Someone like that doesn't die young. I got a facebook message from my friend, Melissa, Sunday night then I called my mom and texted Robin Lippe. It was true. Word had just begun to spread, but it was confirmed. I texted my brother and my cousin who had both played football under Coach Bowles. You can imagine how saddened they were. My cousin graduated from Liberty in 1989 and my brother in 2000. He graduated with Coach Bowles son, Matthew. The camaraderie each and every football player builds during their summers at Camp Copass is amazing. It's something we could never understand. They not only bond with each other, but with their coaches.

Coach Bowles was not only the head coach at Liberty all my years there, but he was also the science teacher. I remember him making people stand up in their chair and put gum on their nose for the duration of class if they were caught chewing gum at school. :) But my fondest memory of him was one day after school when I was Sophomore, fall of 1993. I had just finished cheer leading practice and everyone else had gone home before the game that night, but since I lived a half hour away from school I stayed up there. I was sitting in the small, metal stands outside near the football field crying. I didn't think anyone was around. Coach Bowles saw me and walked up the bleachers and sat down next to me and asked me what was wrong. I was embarrassed, but appreciated that he cared enough to ask. I told him I was never going to be as pretty as the other girls and that no boy wanted to date me. I was very much an ugly duckling with low self-esteem. Well, the head football coach, my junior high science teacher, didn't seem thrown my tears and put his arm around me and prayed over me and told me God did have someone for me that I was pretty. That short, little encounter with him stuck with me the rest of my life. I've never forgotten his kindness and empathy. I hadn't seen him in years until I saw him pop up on facebook a few months ago. He made some poor decisions and left Liberty a few years ago which just goes to show that no one is exempt from sin. No matter the strongest Christian or church goer we all are susceptible to sin, but by the grace of God all can receive forgiveness. I am surprised at how much I've cried over his death. I had no idea it would effect me so deeply.

Liberty was a very small school back then I only had 30 people in my graduating class. Everyone knew everyone. It's had to explain what we had and still have today. It was so different from a public school experience of having 800 kids in your graduating class. It was more intimate, close nit community environment. It was so different from the way Liberty is today. We had a gravel parking lot and went to school in a remodeled old barn. I feel bad now for often resenting my time at Liberty until something this happens and I am reminded how proud I am to be a Warrior.

My brother, Jacob, put it perfectly in a facebook post: He also put together this video.
"Has a been a tough week and a very tough Friday and Saturday. The passing of Coach Bowles has been a shock to the entire Denton Community. I know my experience today has been one of sorrow, but also joy in hearing the wonderful stories of Coach Bowles and reminiscing of my own. I take pride in the fact I was a Denton Liberty Warrior, I am proud of Argyle Liberty, but I along with hundreds of others were Denton Liberty Warriors. We grew up earning everything we won. We swepted the gym, we changed in closets, we drank from a pvc pipe fed by a water hose, not everyone had receiver gloves, we moved weights from building to building. I like others have probably spoken poorly concerning a few issues, but as I have matured realize what a tight family we had and will always have from Denton Liberty. Liberty is a true example of capitalism at work, start with a dream as Mr. Haire, Coach Bowles, and Doc had and watch it grow. I am thankful for all the teachers, coaches, janitors, secretaries, security guards, etc... that made Denton Liberty so fun and taught me so much. It was deeply moving to see warriors from all graduating years at the service today. Truly humbling day. No one is perfect, and everyone strays, but when you are down, look up and have faith. It is ok to cry, be sad, and mourn, but also rejoice in your faith and others faith. Warrior Pride runs deep ! Turn Dad Gum Navy !"

Tribute to Coach Bowles video by LCS

Community Remembers Coach as a Christian Leader