Ann Bowden’s voice cracked as she described seeing a portrait of her late husband and former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden in front of her.
“It’s very emotional,” she said, with her thoughts trailing off for a second. “There hasn’t been enough time yet. I debated about coming over here because it was …”
Bowden was on hand, along with her daughter Ginger Madden, as the college unveiled the painting before the start of the Seminoles’ season opener against No. 9 Notre Dame Sunday evening. It was one of several tributes to the legendary coach on display at Doak Campbell Stadium.
Steve R. Skipper spent more than 1,500 hours over the last two years working on the painting, which features highlights of Bowden’s time throughout his 34 years at FSU. He was able to share the results with Bowden before he passed away in early August at age 91.
“I’ve seen him look that way a lot of times,” Ann Bowden said of the gaze on her husband’s face, which she called pensive.
The pair met when she was 15 years old and married a year later. They had been together for 72 years.
“We wanted to tell a story of his whole career and how he felt,” Skipper said after the unveiling. “Meeting him the first time, he was so inspirational.”
Bowden amassed 315 wins with FSU, 12 ACC titles and two national championships, turning the program into a national powerhouse along the way.
“What surprised me about Coach was his upbeat personality,” added Skipper. “He spoke like a 25-year-old even at age 90. He was so passionate about the project yet so humble. I pushed the fact that he needed to be honored in a way that would not only outlive him but would continue his Christian witness in his absence. It was important for his great-grandchildren to know his remarkable commitment as well as his faith. It was important for his players to have an image to point to when telling their children about him.”
Skipper’s work has been on permanent display at places like the Paul W. Bryant Museum, the Eddie G. Robinson Museum, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, Auburn University’s Lovelace Museum, the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, the College Football Hall of Fame, the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.
“He liked it,” added Bowden. “Sometimes you don’t know what reaction you’re going to get when you see yourself up on a painting, and I think he was pleased with it.”
“I think it was important for Mother to show the school and the public how much we as a family appreciate it, and their recognition of Dad,” added Ginger Madden.
A percentage of the sales from reproductions of the painting will go to the Bowden Trust and FSU athletics department.
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Matt Murschel at or follow him on Twitter at @osmattmurschel.
