By james art 
The City of Scottsdale and the Arizona public sector mourn the loss of Richard A. “Dick” Bowers, a veteran of public service whose career spanned more than 45 years.
Bowers died on October 30. He was surrounded by his family during an autumn trip to the northeast, where he suffered a stroke.
His life was defined by dedicated service, innovative leadership and an unwavering commitment to improving Arizona’s public and nonprofit sectors.
A celebration of Dick Bowers’ life will begin with a funeral Mass at 10 a.m. Nov. 21 at St. Theresa Parish, 5045 E. Thomas Road, Phoenix, followed by a graveside service at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery. Francis, 2033 N. 48th St. ., Phoenix. An afternoon reception will be held at the Herberger Theater Center, 222 E. Monroe St., Phoenix.
For nearly two decades, Bowers played a key role in shaping Scottsdale’s success.
- Serving first as Deputy City Manager from 1981 to 1991 and then as City Manager from 1991 to 2000, Bowers was instrumental in guiding the city’s growth.
- He viewed his role in Scottsdale as a privilege, once musing, “It’s amazing what you can accomplish with an outstanding staff, a supportive political body, and the collective courage to be entrepreneurial.”
Since founding RA Bowers & Associates in 2001, Bowers has focused his consulting experience on strengthening leadership and building high-performing teams. He was known for his “profound simplicity and efficiency”, advocating direct, focused strategies that avoided “the triumph of process over product”. His work has influenced both public and private organizations in Arizona.
- In 2013, Bowers served as Acting City Manager for the City of Glendale.
- His tenure included dealing with the city’s financial challenges and leading complex negotiations surrounding the National Hockey League’s Phoenix Coyotes.
A noted public servant, Bowers’ contributions have been recognized by numerous awards. These include:
- The International Association of City Managers’ Outstanding Management Innovator Award for Promoting Teamwork and Innovation
- The Arizona Republic Vision Weaver Award
- The Champion of Diversity Award for his dedication to civil and human rights in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
- The Jack DeBolske Award from the Arizona City/County Management Association (ACMA)
- Governor’s Award for Leadership in the Arizona Arts Community
- The DREAMR Award for his role in the success of downtown Phoenix.
Bowers’ influence extended beyond government roles.
- As an arts advocate, he has served on the boards of Free Arts for Arizona, Arizona Citizens for the Arts, and the Downtown Phoenix Partnership.
- He was president of the Herberger Theater Center and executive director of the Phoenix Boys Choir.
- A passionate educator, he taught public entrepreneurship at Arizona State University’s School of Public Affairs for more than 20 years and was an adjunct professor at ASU, where he was named the 2012 Assistant Professor of the Year.
Dick Bowers’ legacy is one of vision, integrity and dedication to public service, and he will be greatly missed by all who knew him, as well as the countless lives he touched throughout his career.
