ulie Bowden was a country boy, born and raised in Wetumka, Oklahoma. He was an All-State football player at Wetumka High School among participating in other sports there. He was recruited to Southeastern Teachers College in Durant by Runt Ramsey who was Julie’s coach in both basketball and football during his four year collegiate career. Some sports writers called him the “Human Steam Roller” and the "It" man of sports. He was inducted as a charter member of the Southeastern Athletic Hall of Fame on January 29, 1977.