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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Smith, Bowen To Receive National Football Foundation Award
4/17/2009 | Football
OXFORD, Miss. The Ole Miss Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame will honor Shepard Smith of New York City with its Contribution to Amateur Football Award and Bo Bowen of Jackson, Miss., with the Distinguished American Award here Saturday at halftime of the annual Red-Blue "Grove Bowl" football game. Kickoff at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium/Hollingsworth Field is set for 1 p.m.
The Contribution to Amateur Football Award is given by the Ole Miss Chapter in honor of those who have made numerous contributions to the college athletic world through a lifetime of service to their fellow man, while the Distinguished American Award is presented to individuals who have carried the lessons learned on the football field into a life of service to their community.
"We are pleased to honor these two men for their many contributions to Ole Miss athletics," said Frank Crosthwait, president of the Ole Miss Chapter. "They are most deserving of this recognition."
A native of Holly Springs, Miss., Smith serves as TV host of "Studio B With Shepard Smith" and "The FOX Report With Shepard Smith." He studied journalism at Ole Miss and sharpened his skills at the campus Student Media Center, and continues to promote his alma mater nationally when opportunities arise.
Smith, who anchored FOX Broadcast Company's Election Night coverage of the 2008 presidential election, also provided live coverage of the presidential and vice presidential debates during the 2008 campaign season. He reported on Hurricane Gustav live from New Orleans in addition to anchoring political coverage of the Democratic and Republican National Conventions.
Smith joined FOX News Channel when it was created in 1996. Under his direction, "The FOX Report With Shepard Smith" has been No. 1 in its 7 p.m. timeslot according to Nielsen Media Research. In addition, "Studio B With Shepard Smith" often doubles CNN Newsroom and MSNBC Live ratings in the afternoon.
While at FNC, Smith has held the positions of New York‑based general assignment reporter and senior correspondent. He notably covered Hurricane Katrina as an impending threat and its aftermath; the Middle East conflict during the summer of 2006 from the Israel‑Lebanon border; 9/11 and the subsequent war in Afghanistan; Operation Iraqi Freedom; the Columbine school massacre, and President Clinton's impeachment and trial. He was one of only two television correspondents to witness the execution of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh in June of 2001.
Prior to joining the network, Smith was a Los Angeles‑based FOX News correspondent, reporting on a wide range of stories for the FOX affiliate news service, including the crash of TWA Flight 800, the Montana Freeman Standoff and the Oklahoma City bombing. Before this, Smith gained extensive local news experience throughout the state of Florida, reporting for WSVN‑TV (FOX) in Miami, the former WCPX‑TV (CBS) in Orlando, WBBH‑TV (NBC) in Fort Myers, and WJHG‑TV (NBC) in Panama City, where he began his television career.
Bowen earned three letters while playing tailback and fullback for Coach John Vaught's Rebels and served as co-captain during his 1969 senior season, highlighted by a 27-22 upset victory over No. 3 Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl. His father, Buddy Bowen, was also an outstanding player for Vaught and a member of the 1947 SEC championship squad.
Bo Bowen, who was born in Oxford right after that 1947 season, returned to Ole Miss after a successful prep career at Murrah High in Jackson. While at Ole Miss, Bowen was an outstanding runner, blocker and pass receiver and also had an 89-yard kickoff return against Memphis State in 1967, which remains the 8th longest in Rebel history.
Spiritual life also began at Ole Miss through efforts of Campus Crusade for Christ missionary Mike McNames and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. After a knee injury ended his hopes for professional football, Bo began his career in the life and health insurance business, serving since 1971 in the Ken Foose/ Prudential Agency, where his Ole Miss business administration degree has served him well for 38 years.
Along with the insurance career, God called Bo to mission work through David Bradford at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson in 1992 after the fall of the Soviet Union in Ukraine. His first trip was two weeks and that grew to 22 weeks by 1998, then with wife, Marty, for 25 weeks in 2008 in hopes to be in each of the 25 states in the Ukraine each year.
The purpose of the work is training pastors and leaders. The five-day schools are intense but effective so pastors and leaders learn well enough so they can train others also as a regular part of their church ministry. The next trips to the Ukraine are May 1‑June 6 and July 10‑August 31.