Kelvin Bowles, who owned our local Carolina League baseball team for 21 years, passed away Sunday at the age of 82.
Local baseball fans will always appreciate what Kelvin did for baseball in Salem. The team was in jeopardy of moving when he purchased the club and he gave the team stable leadership until he sold it to the Red Sox organization.
Kelvin loved baseball and it was a big part of his life. He coached Connie Mack and Babe Ruth senior league teams after returning to Franklin County from playing ball in the Air Force. In 1975 he began his pro baseball scouting career with the Major League Scouting Bureau. He became a scout supervisor for Pittsburgh and Montreal and in 1992 he joined the Florida Marlins as a Master Scout. He was a pro scout for over 30 years and liked to flash his Marlins championship ring.
Bowles was a member of the Salem-Roanoke Baseball Hall of Fame Board of Directors since its’ founding in 1991, and attended meetings regularly until coming down ill in the past year with myeloma. He served as Master of Ceremonies at the Hall of Fame banquet for many years and was a key member of the board. Kelvin was inducted into the Salem-Roanoke Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002 and had one of the more memorable acceptance speeches.
Baseball fans in the area had a great friend in Kelvin and his passing is a big loss to fans of the game.
Sorry to hear that news prayers 🙏 to the family and team.
I sent an email to Salem times publisher about doing a show they have my number also I remember Brian from my years in Salem. Yes his pictures are welcome