Richard (Rich)

and Lee Bowerman both grew up in Rochester, New York, but they did not

meet until they were in high school. The longevity of their relationship

is a testament to the importance of the meeting between the city-raised

Lee and country-raised Richard.

The couple

began dating during the last years of high school. Rich opted to join

the Navy shortly after graduating in 1956. He came home in 1957 to marry

his high school sweetheart.

Most couples

plan a nice honeymoon, and the Bowermans were no exception. The difference

between their honeymoon and most is that Rich traveled to Europe alone.

His solitary work-related honeymoon has been a long-standing family joke.

Lee stayed with her parents and continued to work in the office of a large

local bank until Rich returned and the pair moved to Maryland.

Their oldest

son, David, made the couple a family in 1959. In 1960 Rich got out of

the Navy - one week after daughter Denise was born. The growing family

moved