R. Steve Bowden grew up in Liberty, North Carolina, a product of the public schools. He was the first in his family to get a secondary degree. He attended Wake Forest University on an athletic scholarship. There he lettered in football, was named to the All ACC team in 1971 and played on Wake’s first conference championship football team. At Wake Forest, Steve met Carlyn Jeffries (a native of Burlington, NC) who he married in 1974; they have two daughters, Lori and Jennifer.
After Steve's graduation from WFU, he taught school for two years at the Forsyth County Public Schools. Thereafter, he went to the Norman Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University. He graduated as a member of the law school’s first class.
Steve is in private practice (R. Steve Bowden & Associates) handling civil litigation. His primary areas of practice are Personal Injury and Workers’ Compensation.
Steve’s wife, Carlyn, is a two-time graduate of Wake Forest with a BA degree and an MBA. She currently manages the law firm.
His daughter, Jennifer, is an attorney in practice with R. Steve Bowden & Associates. She graduated from the Elon School of Law. His daughter, Lori earned an MBA from the Harvard Business School and is currently employed by Ross Dress For Less in New York City.
Pro Bono Activities
Former Chair of the Charlie Sifford Gate City Open Golf Tournament and Foundation
Former Chair of the George Simkins Political Action Committee
Former Member, Campbell University Board of Trustees
Former Member, University of North Carolina Board of Governors
Former Member, Academy of Trial Lawyers Board of Governors
Former Member, North Carolina Advocates for Justice Political Action Committee
Member, Board of Directors, Action Greensboro
Former Member, Norman A. Wiggins School of Law Board of Visitors
Former Member, Board of Trustees, NC A&T State University
Former Member, Board of Trustees, Guilford Technical Community College
Former Member, Board of Directors of Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro
Former Member, Board of Directors of Greensboro Chamber of Commerce
Former Member, North Carolina Board of Chiropractic Examiners
Member, Greensboro Sports Council, Former President and Chairman
Member, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity
NAACP, Life Member
Member, St. Matthews United Methodist Church
Life Member, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Former Member, Elon Law School, Board of Advisors
Member, Tanger Steven Center, Board of Directors33 Degree Prince Hall Masons
Honors
Honored with the Prestigious John B. McMillan Distinguished Service Award
Order of the Long Leaf Pine awarded by Governor James B. Hunt, Jr. (highest honor given by Governor)
1994 Alumnus of the Year by the WFU Black Alumni
1999 Dr. Martin Luther King Service Award by the Citizens for Dr. King of Biscoe, NC
2003 Community Service Award by the North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers
Top 100 Trial Lawyers, American Trial Lawyers Association, 2011-2024
Beta Gamma Sigma International Honor Society for Schools of Business
2013 Lawyers Weekly Leaders in the Law Award
Campbell University Presidential Medallion Award2023 St Matthews UMC Father of The Year
Member, Million Dollar Advocates Forum
