William McEchron Bowden — ‘a wonderful person’

The grandson and namesake of William McEchron was regarded by friends as “simply a wonderful person” who embodied the business acumen, quiet nature and generous philanthropy of the grandfather, who owned the house at the corner of Ridge and Maple streets in Glens Falls that now is Morgan & Co. restaurant.

William McEchron Bowden died April 4, 1970, at age 76.

“William McEchron Bowden belonged to an old Glens Falls family outstanding in the business and philanthropic life of this city. Mr Bowden continued that tradition,” The Post-Star editorialized on April 6, 1970.

Like his grandfather, Bowden was active in paper making, banking and insurance.

He was a long-time director of First National Bank of Glens Falls, including before and after he was bank vice president from 1930 to 1938.

In 1938 he became a Glens Falls Insurance Co. executive, and remained on the company’s board of directors after he retired in 1958.

Bowden, a 1916 Yale University graduate, began his career with the Laurentide Company Ltd, of Grand Mere, Quebec, a paper company with Glens Falls connections.

Like his grandfather, Bowden had a quiet nature.

“Though prominent in business, Mr. Bowden was a retiring, rather reserved man,” The Post-Star editorialized. “Among his friends he was regarded as delightful company, a man with a keen sense of humor and a sterling loyalty.”

Bowden was a trustee of The Glens Falls Home, a charity his grandfather was a major contributor to.

Bowden was a trustee of Glens Falls Hospital, and First Presbyterian Church, and was an original trustee of The Hyde Collection art museum.

He was chairman of the distribution committee of Glens Falls Foundation.