Richard Bowling

Obituary For Richard Bowling

Mr. Richard Hausber Bowling, passed away Monday, May 8, 2023.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, May 20, 2023 1:00 pm at St. Matthews United Methodist Church 600 East Florida Street Greensboro, North Carolina. Visitation 12:15 pm.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to:

Hayes Taylor YMCA 2630 East Florida Street Greensboro, North Carolina 27404

AuthoraCare Hospice 2500 Summit Avenue Greensboro, North Carolina 27405

James B. Dudley High School Scholarship Program 1200 Lincoln Street Greensboro, North Carolina 27401

Live Stream link; https://www.facebook.com/stmatthewsgreensboro

Richard H. Bowling, IV was born in Greensboro, North Carolina to the late Andrew C. Bowling and Nan Wright Bowling on January 4, 1939. He departed this earthly life early Monday morning, May 8, 2023.

Richard had a life of many firsts and was a courageous trailblazer all his life. As a young child, Richard lived and worked on his father’s farm doing a number of chores, most starting at 3:00 am in the morning, from milking cows, driving a tractor at age seven, and tending to other farm animals. On weekends, as a teenager and young adult, Richard often worked with his father in a private sound system company, specializing in setting up elaborate sound and lighting systems for arena events that included golf tournaments, soap box derbies and sports events. In these earlier years, Richard viewed this as hard work but over time came to appreciate the work ethics and responsibilities it had instilled in him.

After graduating from James B. Dudley High School in 1957, Richard was one of seven African Americans, to enter North Carolina State University (NCSU) during the turbulent 1960’s. There, he earned a degree in electrical engineering. While at State, he participated in several intramural sports. He didn’t know until later that he’d probably lost a trophy as the top campus athlete because of his race, that the bowling alley on Hillsborough Street had been integrated because of his race, or that officials arranged accommodations at the Outer Banks for him and several friends to avoid trouble at a well-traveled beach. While still enrolled at NCSU, Richard was drafted to serve his country. After serving two years of duty in the United States Army touring Europe, he returned, and graduated. He was hired by Western Electric (now AT&T) in 1964 and spent 10 years there as a planning engineer within the Missile Defense Division. At the time, he was the only black engineer in the division.

Although Richard was secure in his position at Western Electric, but dissatisfied with the racial atmosphere, there was a burning desire to venture out on his own. Believing that his work ethics, education, a sharp entrepreneurial mind, and his life experiences had prepared him to pursue his aspirations and dreams, Richard set out to be a successful businessman. On September 21, 1971, while still working at Western Electric, Richard Bowling opened the doors of Cosmos I (with a capacity of 500 people) to a needy community--which by the thousands showed its appreciation, night after night, until Cosmos became a respected name in the entertainment world. Two years later, the Cosmos restaurant added a new dimension with its noon-time lunch buffet which served as a social meeting place for professional and businesspeople. With an exceptional chef, and consistency in tasty foods, many private parties and large banquets, wedding receptions and private parties were held at the Cosmos Restaurant. Cosmos I was known as “a restaurant by day and a club by night.”

In 1974, Richard resigned from Western Electric. The nightclub business became so popular that Richard concluded that a larger venue was needed to serve the total community. Richard could not find anyone who would rent him the larger space he needed, so he bought the Florida Street Shopping Center and moved the night club there and in November 1974, Cosmos II was born. Boasting a capacity of 1,200 people, it was the largest disco in the southeast…long before there was “Saturday Night Fever”. Richard brought disco to North Carolina. Disco was the key to the overnight success. With superior quality music, accentuated by a multimedia environment, flashing lights synchronized to music, Cosmos II set the standard in the south for Disco entertainment. This unique creation combined Richard’s ingenuity as an electrical engineer with his talent as an artist offered people an opportunity to experience entertainment at a new height, as the amazing display took the audience to another level of entertainment. In addition to serving as a nightclub, the site was the answer to hosting larger affairs for fraternities, sororities, and organizations. Organizations such as the Shriners of Khalilf Temple #144, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Greensboro Branch NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet among others brought their large affairs to Cosmos II.

Because of his experience in the field, Richard was considered as one of the pioneers of discos in the South. As an expert in the field, he was elected to the steering committee of the International Disco Association (IDA) and served as a panelist at the IDA conference in January 1977 in Atlanta, GA. In addition to the legendary Cosmos I and Cosmos II Nightclubs and Restaurants, Richard was owner/operator of The Vineyard and M.C. Square as well as one of the coowners and consultants of Trevi Fountain, Incorporated.

Over time, Richard became a successful businessman. Despite the barriers and institutional racism he faced, he never forgot those who struggled to reach greater heights. He was a tireless advocate for business development in southeast IV Greensboro and for minority business owners. To that end, he co-founded South East Economic Developments (SEEDS) which was an organization that focused on economic development in southeast Greensboro for black contractors and other business owners. Richard’s concern for fairness and equal treatment of all citizens, led to the founding of the Other Voices Leadership Program in 1994. Richard’s vision for the program was to develop skills and strategies that would help participants to understand and eradicate prejudice and discrimination on a personal, organizational, and community level. On May 23, 2018, Other Voices celebrated 25 years! Concerned about the future success of African American males, Richard, along with members of Beta Epsilon Boulé, the Guilford County School System, and North Carolina A&T State University, developed and hosted, an African American Male Leadership Summit in 2010 to address critical issues facing young African American men.

Though a busy businessman, Richard was affiliated with many local organizations, including serving as a board member of United Way of Greensboro and the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce. From 1967-1981, the Public Address (PA) announcer for NCA&T State University basketball and football was the voice of Richard Bowling. Additionally, he served as the PA announcer for five CIAA and for four MEAC basketball tournaments. An instrumental figure in community affairs, Richard served as chairperson for the Mayor’s Committee on Drugs, the Mayor’s Committee on Human Relations, and he was the creator of “Other Voices of Greensboro.” He was a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity (1966); past president and member of Greensboro Men’s Club (1973); member and past National President of the American Bridge Association; a member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity Beta Epsilon Boulé (2000); where he served as Social Action Chairperson and creator of the African American Male Leadership Summit. Richard was also a member of the Board of Management of the Hayes Taylor YMCA.

Having a deep passion for his beloved James B. Dudley High School, Richard envisioned and founded The Dudley Alumni Association (DAA) (1975) and served two-terms as National President (2011-2015). Richard also served as National President of the Dudley Alumni Association (DAA) from 2011-2015. Using state of the art technology, his leadership skills, and entrepreneur talents, Richard restructured and strengthened the organization, offering creative solutions to meet the global challenges of the time, thereby creating a legacy of service.

In the arena of community involvement, Richard’s accomplishments and awards are vast. To name a few, in 1980 Richard was a named delegate from North Carolina to the White House Conference on Small Businesses. October 30, 1997, he was a recipient of the Greensboro Merchants Association’s Circle of Excellence Award for Sales & Marketing. On February 5, 1998, he was honored at the annual meeting of the Greensboro Area Chamber of Commerce and received the Nathanael Greene Award. Richard also received The National Association for Community Leadership Distinguished Leadership Award (May 2000). Other recognitions include the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce Other Voices Change Agent Award (2003), induction into the James B. Dudley High School Educational and Sports Hall of Fame/ Hall of Distinction, Inc. (2007), the Achievement Award from Dudley Alumni Association, (2007), the Tau Omega Chapter Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. 2013-2014 Citizen of the Year Award, and he was inducted into North Carolina State University’s Forever Club (2014). He served as the Grand Marshall for the 2021 Martin Luther King Annual Parade.

In addition to being the owner and manager of Freeman Mill Square Shopping Center for 29 years, Richard was a competitive national duplicate bridge player and was ranked 33rd in the nation for several years. Other hobbies included golfing, playing chess, table tennis, and creating computer and graphic designs. If that wasn’t enough, he became a licensed private pilot which afforded him the opportunity to fly up and down the east coast to various cities to attend special events and meetings.

Richard and his beloved wife, Dr. Treana Adkins Bowling, enjoyed 28 years rich with adventure, travel, and service to the community--all filled with love and devotion to one another. He is survived by two sons Richard Bowling V; Donte (Kia); two daughters, Shonica, (James) and Amber (Kevin); one sister, Jane (Randy); Chris Hollis (sister-in-law); 6 grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family and friends.

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