VIDEO: FUZZY BOWERS' HALL OF FAME INDUCTION
Fuzzy Bowers' athletic career began at nearby Harrisonburg High School, where he quarterbacked the football team to a state championship in 1943, led the basketball team to the 1944 state title as a senior and never lost a game in three years as a pitcher on the baseball team. Following a two-year tour of duty for the U.S. Army during World War II and one year at Shenandoah College, Fuzzy received a full scholarship for basketball and baseball from Wake Forest University. After spending the 1947-48 school year at Wake Forest, Fuzzy returned to his Shenandoah Valley roots and enrolled at Bridgewater. He quickly made an impact in baseball for the Eagles, earning honorable mention All-Virginia distinction, and enjoyed an outstanding two-year career as a member of the Bridgewater basketball team. He helped the Eagles to a 14-4 record during the 1948-49 campaign, a school record for victories at the time, and an appearance in the Mason-Dixon tournament championship game. The following year Fuzzy finished sixth in the Mason-Dixon scoring race and set a BC single-game scoring record of 35 points against Mount St. Mary's College.
During the summer months, Fuzzy played baseball in the renowned Valley League from 1946-1960 and played on or managed seven championship teams over that time. Known as one of the top pitchers in the league, Fuzzy once struck out 21 batters in a single game during the 1950 season.
Also in 1957, Fuzzy began a successful stint as the head basketball coach at Broadway High School, where he remained until 1963. He then took over as head coach of his alma mater, Harrisonburg High School. He left the coaching profession in 1966 to become the Director of Athletics for the Harrisonburg Parks and Recreation Department, where he organized and supervised all athletic events in the city while also helping to maintain Harrisonburg's recreational facilities. Fuzzy continued to serve the city of Harrisonburg until his retirement in 1980.
Fuzzy Bowers' lifelong dedication to athletics as both a Bridgewater three-sport star and a dedicated coach and recreation director in the Shenandoah Valley make him a worthy selection into the Bridgewater Athletic Hall of Fame.
