Major William R. Bowdoin was born in 1913 in Statham, Georgia, to a mother who was a school teacher and a father who was a country doctor. After high school in Statham and a law degree from the University of Georgia in 1933, his long and distinguished career in finance began with the Peoples Bank in Winder, Georgia. He entered the Army in 1941 at Fort McPherson, Georgia. He successfully completed Infantry Officer Candidate School with Class Number 42, 18 July 1942. His first assignment as an Infantry Officer was as Adjutant of the Tank Destroyer School, Camp Hood, Texas. After his promotion to Captain in 1944 he was transferred to Army Ground Forces Replacement and School Command, Birmingham, Alabama. In April 1945 he attained the rank of Major. After World War II ended, Mr. Bowdoin was released from active duty. | Upon his return to Georgia in 1946, Mr. Bowdoin renewed his banking career with an enthusiasm that has resulted in his pre-eminent position today. Mr. Bowdoin serves as President and Chairman of the Board of the Trust Company of Georgia Associates, and as Vice-Chairman of the Board of the Trust Company of Georgia.  He serves as a director of banking institutions in the Georgia cities of Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Macon, Rome, and Savannah. | An active interest in education has kept Mr. Bowdoin close to several schooling institutions in Georgia.  He served as chairman of the Board of Trustees of both the Berry Schools in Rome and the Woodruff Medical Center in Atlanta. While serving as a member of the Board of Trustees for Emory University, Mr. Bowdoin recently chaired a Committee which raised the astounding sum of $36 million for the university. | Mr. Bowdoin rendered outstanding service to the government of Georgia, serving as chairman of the Georgia Ports Authority from 1953 to 1955 during the administration of Governor Herman Talmadge. In 1959 Governor Ernest Vandiver appointed him supervisor of purchases for the State of Georgia. He also served as Chairman of the Governor’s Commission for Efficiency and Improvement in Government in 1963-64 at the request of Governor Carl E. Sanders. | Mr. Bowdoin wrote a book, entitled Georgia’s Third Force, which is a critical examination of Georgia’s government and economy. | His old association with the Army and Fort Benning resumed around 1970 when Mr. Bowdoin accepted the invitation of General Omar Bradley to become a member of the Board of Trustees of the Infantry Museum Association.