Completing his 50th year of service at Lee University, Distinguished Professor Donald N. Bowdle has announced his retirement as a full-time faculty member.

Bowdle’s half century tenure sets a record for Lee, and his service is widely celebrated by Lee administrators, faculty, staff and students.

“During his long career of teaching and writing, Dr. Bowdle has brought kindness and intelligence to his work as a Pentecostal theologian, and he has shared these traits with his students,” said Dr. Carolyn Dirksen, vice president for academic affairs.

“His long influence has helped to shape five decades of scholars and pastors, and his impact is immeasurable. His presence on the Lee campus has made Lee a better, more ambitious, and more humane institution.”

Bowdle was the featured speaker at Lee’s commencement this month. The veteran educator, who joined Lee in 1962, is considered a master of the Koine Greek text and has published over 250 articles and book reviews.

During his career at Lee, he received the Excellence in Teaching and Excellence in Scholarship awards, and in 2010, was recipient of the Distinguished Faculty Educator Award by the Church of God. He has also served Lee in numerous academic leadership roles, including dean of Lee College’s Division of Religion and chair of the Department of Bible and Theology.

Dr. Skip Jenkins, director of Lee’s graduate studies in biblical and theological studies, said, “When I was one of Dr. Bowdle’s students, he exemplified the pursuit of excellence in learning and articulation of subject matter that we all wanted to emulate. As a faculty colleague, he has modeled for me the collegiality necessary to foster a true community of Christian scholars and educators. We in the School of Religion have Dr. Bowdle to thank for the culture of excellence and community of scholarship that we all enjoy today.”

Bowdle has written and contributed to numerous academic journal reviews, curriculum and books including Ellicott’s Bible Commentary, Redemption Accomplished and Applied, The Promise and Power (cont.), A Journey Through the New Testament, and Faith Foundations for Life and Ministry in the 21st Century. His article, “Holiness in the Highlands: A Profile of the Church of God,” was published in Christianity in Appalachia: Profiles in Regional Pluralism by the University of Tennessee Press.

Bowdle earned his doctor of theology at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia in American Christianity and his master of theology from Princeton Theological Seminary in ancient and medieval studies.

He was also a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Edinburgh and Yale University. Bowdle received his doctorate and master of arts from Bob Jones University in New Testament Text and Theology and his bachelor of arts from Lee College.

He is married to Jean, and together they have three married children and seven grandchildren.