Jack Bowden (John Curtis Bowden) translated a life-long love of railroads into a career with the Southern Pacific Railroad, two books and a research collection created over 60 years. He grew up in small towns on both side of the Oregon-California border, after his father found work with Southern Pacific Railroad in 1926. Jack spent his career also working for the Southern Pacific Railroad in Oregon, California and Nevada. He went to work after his high school graduation as a railroad clerk, but most of his career was spent as a brakeman and conductor. He retired from the railroad in 1995.

Jack Bowden collected materials about regional railroads for more than 60 years. With Tom Dill, Jack wrote The Modoc: Southern Pacific’s Backdoor to Oregon (2002). He also wrote and illustrated the definitive book Railroad Logging in Klamath Country (2003). His other writing included articles and illustrations for The Trumpeter, the Klamath County Historical Society newsletter.

Jack Bowden was born on January 2, 1934 in Provolt, Oregon. In 1955 he married his wife, Marlene. They have two sons, John David Bowden and Michael Wayne Bowden.