From a Grandfather’s Letters

Dear Chet:

Please excuse my delay in writing to you. I can’t tell you how impressed we were and are with you and the things you stand for. It’s a refreshing feeling listening to you and understanding what a real man stands for. In all my travels you are the only person in public life that I inquired about that received nothing but praise. I hope that whatever your ambitions are, they will be fulfilled.

I am certain you are aware of the success of the dinner, and the thing that impressed me most was that 80% of the people attending were Negroes. Tell Mrs. Bowles the Negro is beginning to take the lead. The dinner, in my opinion, was just an expression of this position. If we have the dinner this year, I hope you’ll be able to attend. We will give you a notice in plenty of time this year.

This battle for civil rights is taking a definite turn. It’s due to the Chester Bowleses we have around that are not afraid of what the future holds. If we can lick this fear, I am certain we can lick the problem of racial tension.

My best to your family. It’s nice knowing people like you. It certainly gives us all a great deal of encouragement.

Sincerely,
[signed]
Jackie Robinson

Note, from Yale University Archives: Robinson had invited Bowles to a NAACP dinner honoring Branch Rickey and Duke Ellington on November 22, 1957, but the former Democratic governor of Connecticut sent his regrets. During his time in office, Bowles became the first governor to abolish segregation in the National Guard and earned a national reputation for his commitment to civil rights causes.

Tim Bowles
September 11, 2025