1900 ... the year Mr. F. M. Bowen, after recuperating from an extended illness, decided it would be cheaper to buy Brown Drug Store than to pay his bill.  Thus, Bowen Drug Store was begun.  R. I. Bowen, Sr. came to run the store with a draw salary of $40.00 a month.  R. I. Bowen taught the business to each of his three brothers and to his son, Robert and John Warren.  The brothers established 10 Bowen Drug Stores in Texas while Robert Bowen and John Warren stayed in the Coleman store.

     After serving in the Air Corps as a pilot, John Warren returned to the store, and he purchased an interest in the store May 1921.  Robert I. Bowen, Jr. earned his pharmacy degree in 1932.  Together they operated the drug store, planning for Jim Stokes to go into business with them.

     Jim graduated from the University of Texas in 1958 and returned to Coleman, buying a junior partnership in the business.  After serving in the Air Force from January 1959 to July 1962, Mr. Stokes returned, purchasing more of the business.  In 1968, Robert Bowen and John Warren retired and Jim Stokes became the sole owner of Bowen's Drug Store.

     Continuing policy set by Mr. Bowen, Bowen Drug Store is a business where the people are friendly, courteous and accommodating, providing full prescription service for 84 years for Coleman County residents.  One other distinction that few companies can claim - Bowens has been with Kodak as retailer for 85 continuous years.