Greeneville Energy Authority President and CEO Chuck Bowlin died unexpectedly on Thursday.
According to the Greeneville Energy Authority, Bowlin was on vacation in St. Croix in the Virgin Islands with his wife and close friends when he died.
The Virgin Islands Consortium, which covers news in St. Croix, said that 911 was notified of a distress call around 1:06 PM Thursday reporting that a man who had been snorkeling with friends at an area called Sugar Beach was missing. A search operation was launched by the Virgin Island Police Department and EMS units. Bowlin was found unresponsive around 4:54 PM. The Virgin Island Police said that Bowlin told his friends he wasn’t feeling well and started to swim back to shore. The police report said that friends and family described Bowlin as “a very fit individual” with no previous medical conditions, and added that he did not appear ill when he went into the water.
Bowlin was 56.
Bowlin took over as president and CEO of Greeneville Light & Power in July of 2020, replacing Bill Carroll who had served as president for 30 years. Bowlin servied as Director of Operations and Engineering before his appointment as president.
In the community, Bowlin was serving in his 5th year as President of the Boys & Girls Club of Greeneville & Greene County and had been named to the Tennessee Boys & Girls Club Board Member of the Year in 2023. He also served on the Greene County Partnership Board of Directors.
The Greeneville Energy Authority will share more information on arrangements as they are made.
Several community leaders and friends of Bowlin’s have shared their thoughts about him. They are available here.
