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Part of Tallahassee's Tharpe Street now bears the name of Leon's longest-serving school board member

Retired Leon School Board Member Joy Bowen (in red) gets her first look at the road sign bearing her name.
Tom Flanigan
Retired Leon School Board Member Joy Bowen (in red) gets her first look at the road sign bearing her name.

The longest-serving member of the Leon County School Board now has part of her district's main thoroughfare named in her honor. The ceremony took place on Jan. 25 at Raa Middle School for the dedication of the "Georgia Joy Bowen Roadway."
The road designation had officially been done by the Leon County Commission, now chaired by Commissioner Nick Maddox. He was master of ceremony for the occasion.

"The section of Tharpe Street ranging from Raa Middle School to Godby High School be designated the 'Georgia Joy Bowen Roadway,"
he told the large crowd of Bowen's family, friends and colleagues, along with more than a dozen city, county and school district leaders.

Bowen said she was deeply honored, but still had one request.

"What I want most to be remembered for is my deep love for my schools: Augusta Raa Middle School, Ruediger Elementary, Amos P. Gody High, John P. Riley Elementary, Sealey Elementary, Astoria Park Elementary, and Griffin Middle School."

First elected to the Leon County School Board in 1998, Bowen retired from the body this past November.

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Tom Flanigan has been with WFSU News since 2006, focusing on covering local personalities, issues, and organizations. He began his broadcast career more than 30 years before that and covered news for several radio stations in Florida, Texas, and his home state of Maryland.

Find complete bio, contact info, and more stories. here.