Bright Bowe, former undersheriff and investigator, dies

Former Benton County Undersheriff Bright Bowe died early Friday, just days after donating his beloved collection of police hats for display at the Kennewick Police Department. He was 77.

In an image captured for the March 8 edition of the Tri-City Herald, Bowe shook hands with Kennewick Police Chief Hohenberg while his wife of 53 years, Teresa, stood at his side.

It was a fitting tribute for a longtime Tri-City resident who spent the vast majority of his life in and around law enforcement.

He was born March 12, 1938, in Fort Smith, Ark., but grew up in Portland. His wife said he moved to the Tri-Cities for a job 55 years ago and never left.

He was a sales manager for Jerry Pepin’s Chrysler dealership in Kennewick, but switched gears when the dealership came under investigation for defrauding local banks and went out of business. Numerous officials cleared Bowe of any involvement in the matter, and then-Benton County Sheriff Bob Rupp appointed him undersheriff in 1979.

He served in that role until 1986, when Rupp announced that he would not seek re-election. Bowe threw his hat into the crowded ring, running as a Republican. Voters chose Democrat Jim Kennedy. Within a month, the sheriff-elect announced the office would have two majors and no undersheriff.

The move put Bowe out of work, but he told the Herald he had “no regrets.”

He later formed Bowe & Associates, a Kennewick firm specializing in security and investigations. His wife said he worked until December, when he became ill. He was also active in civic groups including the Shriners, American Legion Baseball and organizations working to educate students about drug and alcohol abuse.

In 2014, Bowe wrote to the Tri-City Herald to applaud local civic leaders for arranging a private flight for a teen girl who needed transportation to a Shriners hospital in Northern California. He neglected to mention that he organized the fundraising campaign that sent her there in the first place.

Bowe died just a day before what would have been his 78th birthday. His daughter said the family is proceeding with a birthday party.

In addition to his wife, Bowe is survived by five children, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

At his request, there will be a private family gathering to mark his death. Mueller’s Tri-Cities Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

This story was originally published March 11, 2016 at 4:25 PM with the headline "Bright Bowe, former undersheriff and investigator, dies."