Ellinwood Rotary Club announced the selection of Rick and Colleen Bowman as Grand Marshals for the Ellinwood After Harvest Festival Parade Saturday, July 19 starting at 10 a.m. on Main Street in Ellinwood.
Rick Bowman retired from the City Of Ellinwood in 2015 and has worked since for USD 355 in a part-time position. Rick retired after 29 years as the City's power plant operator and with trash service.
Colleen retired in 2020 from CPI after 24 years. About the same time Marilyn Sauber asked Colleen if she would dispatch once a week at the Senior Center as a volunteer for Public Transportation. Colleen soon learned that there were many more volunteer activities at the local senior center. Soon she found herself as Chair of the Ellinwood Commission on Aging. It was discovered that the 501(c)(3) tax exempt status had been suspended and with the help of others Colleen was able to have it reinstated. Colleen was instrumental in applying for a grant to purchase a newer Public Transportation van. Colleen manages the Public Transportation program operated out of the Ellinwood Heritage Center. Colleen‘s official title is site manager and this includes supervising 10 meal on wheel volunteers, 13 Public Transportation driver volunteers and three dispatchers.