This fund supports an annual scholarship award to the leader of the trombone section in the Gator Marching Band. It was established in 2010 by Daniel Bowles and Mary Jane Ayers in honor of their father, the late Richard Bowles.

From 1958 to 1985, Richard was the director of band at UF. He published more than 100 compositions and arrangements, his most famous one being the Gator fight song “The Orange and Blue.”

Richard earned a bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Indiana and a master’s degree in music from the University of Wisconsin.

He passed away in 200