After a brief career in teaching, Bowman graduated from the Lorne Greene Academy of Radio Arts in 1949 to become Sports Director of CJOY until 1954. He also worked at CFRA Radio in Ottawa, CKKW in Kitchener and as the Public Relations Officer for the Ontario Hockey Association. He later became Sports Editor of the Guelph Mercury, a job he held until 1986. If there was a big sporting event in Guelph, Bowman was there.
Hugh’s rapier wit brought colour to more than 1,000 hockey broadcasts including Memorial Cup, Centennial Cup and AlIen Cup games. He was also the voice for the network broadcast of hockey games from the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley. He was also the “Voice of the Guelph Gryphons” handling PA duties for many events at the University.
He penned over 5,000 of his popular “Sportslines” columns in the Mercury keeping sports fans in Guelph up-to-date, and often chuckling, on the happenings in their town.
He was elected to the University of Guelph’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1990 and is a Life Member of the Ontario Sportswriter and Sportscasters Association.
Inducted into the Guelph Sports Hall of Fame – Builder category – May 6, 1998
