ScholarWorks at University of Montana

Title

R. Michael Bowman Interview, July 23, 1984

Interviewee

R. Michael Bowman

Interviewer

Dan Hall

Files

Description

R. Michael Bowman discusses his experiences as a smokejumper and a U.S. Forest Service employee, which began in 1955. Bowman credits Francis Lufkin at the Okanogan Base in Winthrop, Washington, for instilling in him a hard work ethic and giving him a broad experience through his policy of assigning jumpers to a variety of projects, including trail design and maintenance. He talks about developments in the smokejumper program from the perspective of his later career as a Fire Management Officer. He highlights the jump list, the use of helicopters, the prescribed fire program, and the future of the smokejumping program. Bowman also discusses trading smokejumping and firefighting technology with other nations as well as the role of women and minorities in the smokejumping program.

Document Type

Oral History

Subjects

Smokejumpers Washington (State) Biography; Smokejumping Washington (State) History; Francis Lufkin; Winthrop, Washington; Female smokejumpers

Original Date

7-23-1984

Time Period

Twentieth century

Geographic Coverage

Montana

Language

eng

Original Collection

Smokejumpers 1984 Reunion Oral History Collection, OH 133, Archives and Special Collections, Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula

Digital Publisher

University of Montana--Missoula. Mansfield Library

Rights

Copyright to this collection is held by the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula. Permission may be required for use of this item. For further information please contact Archives and Special Collections: (406) 243-2053 / library.archives@umontana.edu

Oral History Number

OH 133-007

Media Type

Sound; Text

Original Format

1 sound cassette (64 min.) : analog + 1 transcript (17 p. : 28 cm.)

Digital Format

audio/mp3; application/pdf

Run Time

01:07:37 minutes

Local Filename

OH_133_007.mp3; OH_133_007.pdf

Citation

Bowman, R. Michael, "R. Michael Bowman Interview, July 23, 1984" (1984). Smokejumpers 1984 Reunion Oral History Project. OH 133-007.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/smokejumpers/34