Holden Bowler
Encyclopedia
Holden Bowler was an American athlete, singer and businessman who served as the namesake for Holden Caulfield
in J.D. Salinger's novel The Catcher in the Rye
and was the godfather
of Judy Collins
.
on September 23, 1912, but his family moved to Gooding, Idaho
in 1920, where he spent the rest of his childhood and attended school where he excelled athletically. During high school, Bowler ran track, and set the Idaho state record for the half-mile, which remained unbroken for twelve years. Although his obituary claimed he reached the semifinals of the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, this is not true and he never participated in either the Olympic Games or the 1932 US Olympic trials.
In 1931, Bowler entered the University of Idaho
, staying there until 1935 without graduating. While at the university, Bowler joined the Phi Gamma Delta
fraternity, through which he met Thomas Collins, later the father of singer Judy Collins
. The two became close friends, often singing and drinking together. As a result of their friendship, Bowler became the godfather of Judy Collins, who later described his singing voice as "magnificent."
and joined the Robert Shaw Chorale
. Bowler was as a soloist in the group for three years, but was one of the first members to leave, in 1939. After leaving the chorale, Bowler became the headline singer of the McCormick Cruise line on its voyage to South America.
While working on the McCormick line, Bowler first met J.D. Salinger, who worked as a staff boy on the same ship. The two quickly developed a friendship, riding bicycles together while in port and discussing their hopes for the future. During one of their conversations, Salinger told Bowler that he hoped to become a writer and would use the name Holden in one of his future books. In 1951, Salinger finished his book Catcher in the Rye and wrote to Bowler, informing him that the book's protagonist, Holden Caulfield
was named for him. Ann Bowler, Holden's wife, later recounted that Salinger told Bowler: "what you like about Holden (Caulfield) is taken from you, and what you don't like about him, I made up."
Bowler left singing and enlisted in the Army, where he was commissioned as a second lieutenant
. Bowler was promoted to the rank of captain before the D-Day
landings and served in the section responsible for coordinating the logistics of the attack. After D-Day, he "oversaw all German and Italian Prisoners of War brought to England." While in England, he also met Ann Marion Childs, whom he married in 1945; the two went on to have four children. After the war, Bowler stayed in the United States Army Reserve
, retiring in 1962 with the rank of lieutenant colonel
.
In the 1950s, Bowler moved to Denver, where he entered business. He initially sold advertisements for a local radio station, KYMR-AM, then joined the Halclark Advertising agency in Denver. In 1961, he started his own advertising firm, Bowler Associates. Starting in 1969, he also worked with the Denver school district, doing environmental education. He retired in 1971 and moved to Bliss, Idaho
where he died in 2001 at the age of 89.
Holden Caulfield
Holden Caulfield is the 16-to-17 years old protagonist of author J. D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye. He is universally recognized for his resistance to growing older and desire to protect childhood innocence...
in J.D. Salinger's novel The Catcher in the Rye
The Catcher in the Rye
The Catcher in the Rye is a 1951 novel by J. D. Salinger. Originally published for adults, it has since become popular with adolescent readers for its themes of teenage confusion, angst, alienation, language, and rebellion. It has been translated into almost all of the world's major...
and was the godfather
Godparent
A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's baptism. A male godparent is a godfather, and a female godparent is a godmother...
of Judy Collins
Judy Collins
Judith Marjorie "Judy" Collins is an American singer and songwriter, known for her eclectic tastes in the material she records ; and for her social activism. She is an alumna of the University of Colorado.-Musical career:Collins was born and raised in Seattle, Washington...
.
Early life
Bowler was born in Shoshone, IdahoShoshone, Idaho
Shoshone is the county seat and largest city of Lincoln County, Idaho, United States. The population was 1,398 at the 2000 census. In contrast to the Shoshone Native American tribe for which it is named, the city's name is correctly pronounced "Show-shown," with a silent 'e'.- History :Shoshone has...
on September 23, 1912, but his family moved to Gooding, Idaho
Gooding, Idaho
Gooding is the county seat and largest city of Gooding County, Idaho, United States. Its population was 3,384 at the 2000 census.The city is named for Frank R. Gooding, a local sheep rancher who became a prominent political figure in Idaho in the early 20th Century, serving as both Governor of...
in 1920, where he spent the rest of his childhood and attended school where he excelled athletically. During high school, Bowler ran track, and set the Idaho state record for the half-mile, which remained unbroken for twelve years. Although his obituary claimed he reached the semifinals of the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics, this is not true and he never participated in either the Olympic Games or the 1932 US Olympic trials.
In 1931, Bowler entered the University of Idaho
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
, staying there until 1935 without graduating. While at the university, Bowler joined the Phi Gamma Delta
Phi Gamma Delta
The international fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta is a collegiate social fraternity with 120 chapters and 18 colonies across the United States and Canada. It was founded at Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, in 1848, and its headquarters are located in Lexington, Kentucky, USA...
fraternity, through which he met Thomas Collins, later the father of singer Judy Collins
Judy Collins
Judith Marjorie "Judy" Collins is an American singer and songwriter, known for her eclectic tastes in the material she records ; and for her social activism. She is an alumna of the University of Colorado.-Musical career:Collins was born and raised in Seattle, Washington...
. The two became close friends, often singing and drinking together. As a result of their friendship, Bowler became the godfather of Judy Collins, who later described his singing voice as "magnificent."
Musical career
After leaving the University of Idaho, Bowler moved to Chicago to pursue his dream of becoming a professional singer, and worked with a voice coach in 1935 and 1936. He then moved to New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and joined the Robert Shaw Chorale
Robert Shaw Chorale
The Robert Shaw Chorale was a professional chorus founded in New York City in 1948 by Robert Shaw, a Californian who had been drafted out of college a decade earlier by Fred Waring to conduct his Glee Club in radio broadcasts...
. Bowler was as a soloist in the group for three years, but was one of the first members to leave, in 1939. After leaving the chorale, Bowler became the headline singer of the McCormick Cruise line on its voyage to South America.
While working on the McCormick line, Bowler first met J.D. Salinger, who worked as a staff boy on the same ship. The two quickly developed a friendship, riding bicycles together while in port and discussing their hopes for the future. During one of their conversations, Salinger told Bowler that he hoped to become a writer and would use the name Holden in one of his future books. In 1951, Salinger finished his book Catcher in the Rye and wrote to Bowler, informing him that the book's protagonist, Holden Caulfield
Holden Caulfield
Holden Caulfield is the 16-to-17 years old protagonist of author J. D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye. He is universally recognized for his resistance to growing older and desire to protect childhood innocence...
was named for him. Ann Bowler, Holden's wife, later recounted that Salinger told Bowler: "what you like about Holden (Caulfield) is taken from you, and what you don't like about him, I made up."
Military and business career
At the beginning of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Bowler left singing and enlisted in the Army, where he was commissioned as a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
. Bowler was promoted to the rank of captain before the D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
landings and served in the section responsible for coordinating the logistics of the attack. After D-Day, he "oversaw all German and Italian Prisoners of War brought to England." While in England, he also met Ann Marion Childs, whom he married in 1945; the two went on to have four children. After the war, Bowler stayed in the United States Army Reserve
United States Army Reserve
The United States Army Reserve is the federal reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the reserve components of the United States Army....
, retiring in 1962 with the rank of lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
.
In the 1950s, Bowler moved to Denver, where he entered business. He initially sold advertisements for a local radio station, KYMR-AM, then joined the Halclark Advertising agency in Denver. In 1961, he started his own advertising firm, Bowler Associates. Starting in 1969, he also worked with the Denver school district, doing environmental education. He retired in 1971 and moved to Bliss, Idaho
Bliss, Idaho
Bliss is a city in Gooding County, Idaho, United States. The population was 275 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bliss is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land....
where he died in 2001 at the age of 89.