R.I.P.: Columbus GA Radio Vet Bill Bowick

Bill Bowick

Long-time Columbus, GA radio veteran Bill Bowick died Wednesday, July 29, 2015

He was 91, according to the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer.

A 1947 graduate of the Grady School of Journalism at the University of Georgia, Bowick began his radio career that year at WALB in Albany, Ga., his hometown. It was at WALB that he launched his signature “Coffee with Bill” morning show that would follow him for years.

In 1955, Bowick moved to Columbus, where he would raise a family of six children and work the airwaves for almost 35 years.

Bowick worked first at WGBA, where he reincarnated his “Coffee with Bill” show and introduced his alter ego, Philup Space, a conjured comical character who liked to give guests a hard time.

In the early 1970s, Bowick moved to WRBL as program director, but he maintained his morning show there. In 1977, Bowick took a job at WEIZ until he left to help with the creation of Magic 98, WMGP, where he would work until health problems forced him to retire in 1989.

In 2008, Bowick was inducted into the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame, in the same class of inductees as Atlanta Braves announcers Skip Caray, Ernie Johnson and Pete Van Wieren.