This is my dad. He is a great man who respects and honors the legacy his ancestors have given him. He was just released from being our Bishop last week. He was an amazing Bishop - anyone will tell you that. The great thing is that he is an even better father.

My dad didn't ever know his father, Claude. His family was in a terrible car accident when my dad was only 7 weeks old. His mother was crippled from it, his brother Willie (who lives with my dad now) went through the windshield and had brain damage, and my grandpa was banged up but thought he was OK. In actuality, his ribs were broken and they punctured his lungs. He was so worried about his wife and son he sat in the waiting room of the hospital and died within hours as his lungs filled up with blood.

He loved my dad. He used to call him his "little Ricki". After his death my grandma kept the name Ricki instead of Richard. My dad is embarrassed by that name, but I think it's a great reminder of a loving father holding his son and calling him his "little Ricki".

My grandma remarried when my dad was seven years old. He loved Herold just like he was his own dad. Herold taught my dad how to cook which is why my dad loves it so much! When my dad was 12 Herold died from an accident at work. My grandma remarried again when my dad was on his mission. Grandpa Laub was an interesting man. He was a veteran and had lots of stories to tell. (We joke that my grandma was very hard on husbands - she outlived all of them!)

My dad was raised by the Relief Society when he was very young because my grandma was crippled and too sick to care for him. I think that is why he is so wonderful today! He understands the importance of womanhood and motherhood and he honors and respects his Priesthood.

He is an honorable man and I love him so much!!!

This is "Papa Boden". Rachel calls him that and we all just love it!

Dad is so kind and loving, especially to the grand kids. They all love singing time at night. Papa rocks them and sings good ole' songs like "The Bear Went Over the Mountain", "Edelweiss", "Two Little Boys", "Tiptoe Through the Tulips", "Pendulum Swing" and "My Old Kentucky Home".

Dad is always willing to listen and give sound advice to our problems. He is so supportive and encouraging! Dad sends a postcard to each of his kids every single week with a picture of anyone who is celebrating something that week (birthdays, anniversaries, etc.). It is one of the neatest things my children have. They always look for the postcard in the mail each week.

Dad loves the South. He is a Civil War Historian. He loves his horse Emma and the kids LOVE riding with him. He is a great husband, a wonderful father and a fabulous Papa.

We love you dad!!!

Grandpa "Skeet" Bowman was the Sheriff of Graham County for many years. Many of you know him. He passed away when Jay was very young, but Jay talks about the times he spent with his grandpa as the greatest times in his life. If we ever have a son he will be named after this great man! He was a convert to the church and didn't go to the temple until Larry was going through before his mission. They got to receive their endowments together.

Skeet was all cowboy! Jay tries to carry on the tradition. Grandpa was a hard worker and great at what he did. He raised a wonderful family and had a sweet, beautiful wife that he cherished. He and his brothers, Everett & Dick, are in the Cowboy Hall of Fame for inventing the goose-neck spur and the first horse trailer. Everett won seven Rodeo World Championships. Grandpa won two Rodeo World Championships for calf roping. The Bowman legacy is one we are proud to hold.

Grandpa Clifford. What a guy! We all love him! The great-grandkids love taking turns playing with him. Grandpa is famous for his lovely rendition (in a falsetto voice) of "Mares Eat Oats" that is classically sung at each wedding luncheon. We always find grandpa with a funny hat on his head or something in his eyes (like baby bottle nipples) making all of us laugh.

He is a quiet man and an honorable one. He served his country well in WWII and worked his whole life as a banker in Safford. He loves his wife and children and we are proud to call ourselves his grandchildren!