On February 18, 2005 the Bowyer family suffered some extremely bad luck. Their house burned and Paul Bowyer was fatally burned while trying to rescue his granddaughter Katie from the fire. They both were taken to Charlottesville Va. to the UVA Medical Center where Paul succumbed to his injuries a few days later. Katie was later taken to Shriners Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio where she spent the next 3 ½ months being treated for her injuries. She has since returned to the Blacksburg area and has returned to school in Blacksburg Middle School. Mrs. Bowyer and her Son & Grandson have been living with a neighboring Son since the fire.
A little more history about Paul Bowyer: He was a local Building Trades teacher in the Montgomery Co. area for many years. He was very instrumental in teaching building trades to many who are practicing trades in our local area at this time. He also was involved with coaching at Blacksburg High School for a number of years. He served as a coach and mentor to many young men at a time in their life when they needed support and help from a good role model.
It is because of this that a considerable number of local members of the building industry are planning to pitch in and donate their time, talent and materials to rebuild the home for the Bowyer family. This is their way of saying thanks to Paul for what he did for them at a time in their life when it counted.
