The Charlie Bowman story at Pearl River almost never happened.

Before Bowman came to Pearl River in 1974, he was considering a job offer from Western Kentucky University.

Luckily for the Pearl River community, Bowman picked the Rebels, and now, the school's track facility, which Bowman built, officially bears his name.

"It's just great to have people here to support me for what I have done," Bowman said. "I'm just flattered that I have so many people who reached out to me and made all of this happen. It's unbelievable."

Pearl River unveiled the new red and white signage, which was made by the school's welding department, during a ceremony honoring Bowman on May 20.

"Mr. Bowman is just an amazing representative of Pearl River High School," Principal Trece Jordan-Larsen said. "Today brings everything he did for our school and community full circle. Today is a momentous occasion. He did so much for every single student he taught or coached. Today is just a special day."

Bowman, 71, spent 39 years at Pearl River High School as an art teacher and coach. The school opened in 1968, and Bowman began teaching there six years later.

Lasting impact

Before, during and after the ceremony, the love for Bowman was on full display, but never was the impact on his former athletes and students better represented than by a simple embrace.

Bowman had just finished an interview when a trio of former cross-country captains approached their coach and asked for a photo. When Bowman recognized the trio, his face lit up before sharing a hug.

It was a scene that would replay over and over again.

"This is just unbelievable," Bowman said.

While Bowman couldn't believe what was happening, his former players couldn't believe it didn't happen sooner.

Former track and field athlete Tim Mattei had to fight back tears as he said Bowman "saw something in me that no one else could."

During his time at Pearl River, the 1974 Grambling State University graduate coached basketball, boys' and girls' track and cross-country. His cross-country teams were state runners-up twice, and he was the only Rebels coach to win district titles in both boys' and girls' track and field. He also served as athletic director for 12 years.

The father of five with 16 grandchildren retired in 2013 after being named Pearl River Teacher of the Year four times and was the Pearl River Teacher of the Decade in the 1970s. All of his children graduated from Pearl River.

"Pearl River embraced me like never before," Bowman said.

Picking Pearl River

As Bowman spoke to the nearly 100 people in attendance, he shared the story of how he came to Pearl River. And to the surprise of many, it was a union that almost didn't happen.

"I'm going to let you in on a little secret; I should have never been at Pearl River High School," Bowman said. "When I was in college, my department said that they had never had a Grambling State University graduate come back and teach in the department. So they said they would like to hire in two or three years."

In the meantime, Bowman went to an interview at Western Kentucky, and he was impressed. So was the university and they offered him a full-time teaching position. Then, just days before he was going to sign the teaching contract, he got a call from St. Tammany Parish Schools.

Bowman met with St. Tammany officials on a Saturday. And they changed his mind by offering him a coaching position in track and basketball along with an art teaching position.

The twist in that story is that when Bowman signed his teaching contract, he discovered that the coaching positions were filled.

In his first year at Pearl River, Bowman served as a volunteer basketball and track coach, and the rest is history.

The following year, Bowman was hired as a full-time coach after several coaches lobbied the principal and thus was the beginning of an extraordinary legacy.

"This particular honor means so much because it leaves a legacy," Bowman said. "I based the things I've done on four quotes I live by. Treat others like you want to be treated. … You've got to go through to get to. … Each one should reach one. … Always do your best to make others better."