Bertie Bowman has served as hearing coordinator for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee since 2000, when the executive appointment of then committee chairman Jesse Helms brought him back to the Senate after a ten-year hiatus. Before his retirement in 1990, Bertie Bowman had worked for the Foreign Relations Committee for twenty-five years, first as committee clerk and then as assistant hearing coordinator. He owns and operates Bertie's Limousine Service, a chauffeur company that provides services for Washington VIPs, foreign diplomats, and others in and around the metropolitan D.C. area. Bowman is an elected member of the board of directors of the Senate Federal Credit Union, a member of the D.C. Board of Funeral Directors, and active in many community volunteer organizations.
A great American story by a frontline witness to history. Vice President Joseph Biden This is a marvelous and inspiring story about a man who, despite a difficult early life, did not lose faith in himself or other people. He is a person many of us aspire to be like but often fall short of. Barbara F. Allem, former chief clerk, Committee on Foreign Relations Bertie s integrity, work ethic, and good humor have earned him the trust and friendship of several generations of senators. His longevity in the Senate is a remarkable accomplishment, and he is one of the best-known and revered staffers within the Senate family. Senator Richard Lugar Inspiring . . . a heartfelt, old-school American history lesson. <i>Kirkus Reviews A fascinating read . . . I highly recommend it. Tavis Smiley, PBS