Football | 3/30/2017 9:55:00 AM

Rock Hill, S.C.----Wingate University football defensive end John Bowman (Rockingham, N.C., WU class of '05) is one of the newest members of the South Atlantic Conference Hall of Fame, league officials announce this week. Bowman will be formally inducted into the South Atlantic Conference Hall of Fame at the SAC Hall of Fame Banquet in Greenville, S.C. on June 1, 2017.
 
"I would like to thank the selection committee for this huge and highly distinguished honor," Bowman says. "When the news first came, I was shocked and humbled."
 
Bowman was a Don Hansen's Football Gazette All-American following the 2003 season. An All-SAC and All-Region selection the same year, Bowman was fourth in the NCAA Division II in quarterback sacks (1.2/game) as a senior. His 2003 statistical ledger included 66 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, a league-best 15 sacks, two forced fumbles and a pair of pass break-ups. Bowman joined the Wingate Sports Hall of Fame in 2015. His football coaches at Wingate were current head coach Joe Reich and Reich's predecessor, Bob Brush.
 
"This is a great honor for John and for us as a program to have one of our guys selected," Reich says. "It's awesome to see a guy who played with such great effort get rewarded for his achievements."
 
Bowman joined the Canadian Football League's Montreal Alouettes in 2006. During his career, the Alouettes have won the Grey Cup (CFL Super Bowl) in 2009 and 2010. Bowman was named to the CFL All-Star team in 2010 and 2015. He is a six-time CFL East All-Star (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015).
 
An 11-year CFL veteran, Bowman is Montreal's all-time leader in quarterback sacks with 112 entering the 2017 campaign. In 2015, he led the CFL in quarterback sacks with 19. In 2010, Bowman was first in the CFL in forced fumbles and second in sacks as the Alouettes won their second Grey Cup of his career. He led the CFL in sacks and forced fumbles in 2009 as Montreal captured the first Grey Cup during his tenure. Bowman signed a contract extension through the 2017 season on August 2, 2016.
 
Bowman is an active volunteer with Montreal as he has visited 12 hospitals during his playing career. In addition, he has visited numerous underprivileged communities in the Montreal area.   Bowman is also highly involved with the Alouettes' "Together at School Program." Bowman has visited over 400 schools in his career in the Montreal area.
 
Bowman counts his first Bulldog touchdown as his most memorable Wingate athletic experience "In my junior year, I returned a fumble 44 yards for a touchdown in a 33-0 victory over Newberry on Nov. 2, 2002," Bowman says. "This was my first-ever touchdown…hands down, this was my most memorable athletic experience at Wingate."
 
In a 2015 interview, Bowman shared what he would most want people to remember about him. "I would want people to know I work hard," Bowman says. "I was a back-up tight end at Richmond County Senior High School. During my early days at Wingate, I moved from tight end to defensive end. I came from a small town, attended a small school, played in the Arena League…finally making my way to the CFL. I have fought for and earned everything I have achieved."
 
WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
Wingate University, consistently ranked as a top 10 "best value" in the South by U.S. News & World Report, serves more than 3,200 students on three campuses in Wingate, Charlotte and Hendersonville, N.C. Founded in 1896, the University offers 35 undergraduate majors, 35 minors, 12 career concentrations, nine pre-professional programs, master's degrees in accounting, business, education, physician assistant studies and sport management and doctorates in education, pharmacy and physical therapy.
 
With a 14 to 1 student/teacher ratio, Wingate students gain the tools and support needed to excel in academics and apply that learning toward an extraordinary career and life. To view current news, video and story ideas, visit www.youtube.com/wingateuniversity. 
 
In addition to a robust intramural athletics program, Wingate student athletes compete in 22 NCAA Division II sports. The University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past 10 years. For more information, go to www.wingate.edu.
               
Wingate is first among NCAA Division II Academic All-America®-producing colleges in the 2000's with 88 selections. Among North Carolina's colleges and universities, Wingate is number one in this millennium with 88 Academic All-America® honorees. Wingate is tops among all SAC schools with 97 lifetime Academic All-America® picks. For more information on WU athletics, go to www.wingatebulldogs.com.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
John Bowman, SAC Hall of Fame Class of 2017
 
"First, I would like to thank my aunt Robin Bowman Scott who raised me to be a great and productive human. I must give much credit to my coaches Joe Reich, Rashaan Jordan, Jim Catanzaro and Mike Gutelius. I am thankful for all the great teammates I took the field with week in and week out. I would also like to thank David Sherwood for spearheading the whole SAC Hall of Fame process. Lastly, I want to thank Wingate University and my professors for keeping me on track in the classroom."