By Sarah Richardson
At the June White Sulphur Springs City Council meeting, Mayor Bruce Bowling gave parting remarks ahead of the municipal election the following day. After six years of serving as Mayor, he finished his latest term with no bid for reelection. Prior to serving as mayor, Bowling spent a number of years on City Council, and before that he served as both a boardmember and president of the Greenbrier County Board of Education.
Bruce’s father, John H. Bowling, Jr., served 24 years as Mayor of White Sulphur Springs from 1971-1991, and 1997-2001. “He won the election once as a write-in candidate,” Bruce explained, “He wasn’t even trying to run.” Bruce’s grandfather, John. H. Bowling, was also mayor from 1959-1961 and 1965-1967.
“I am very proud to have served in this capacity for the last six years,” said Bowling. After thanking his coworkers and other city employees, Bowling noted he especially appreciated the efforts of City Attorney Fred Giggenbach for his prompt work provided to the city.
Bowling also acknowledged City Manager Lloyd Haynes in saying, “He’s done a remarkable job,” before he presented Haynes with a poster copy of “The Man in the Arena” speech by Theodore Roosevelt. The poster was originally gifted to Bowling when he was serving on the Greenbrier County Board of Education in the 1980s. After accepting the gift, Haynes asked that the next administration “keeps White Sulphur Springs going forward, because it’s worth it.”
Former City Recorder Kathy Glover won the municipal election to serve as mayor beginning at the next council meeting on July 3 at 7 p.m.
