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Oregon鈥檚 top law librarian began her professional life installing telephone systems in Houston, Texas. In fact, Cathryn 鈥淐at鈥� Bowie was one of the first women in the nation to work as a business phone system installer for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company.

She worked for the company for about four years, installing phones for the likes of former Texas Gov. John Connelly and Percy Foreman, who represented James Earl Ray. Bowie left to go to college at the University of Houston, where she considered going to medical school, becoming a veterinarian or a marine biologist. Then she realized she kept being drawn to library jobs.

Bowie鈥檚 first library job was entering data from the card catalog into the new electronic catalog at the University of Houston. She moved on to the periodicals department and the circulation department in the university鈥檚 law school library. Bowie was thinking about going to law school herself when she met Earl Weisbaum, a law librarian who became her mentor.

She earned her master鈥檚 in library science from the University of North Texas in 1993 and went on to serve as the director of libraries at a private law firm and as the chief financial officer at the University of Houston鈥檚 law library.

鈥淎t the university I worked with students to prepare them for jobs, and then at the law firm I saw some of those students again because they had been hired to work there,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat work was interesting, but a law firm is tough. I liked working with litigators and doing research, almost like a private detective. It was fast-paced, but the hours were long.鈥�

A Texas friend who had moved to Seattle told Bowie about an opening at the State of Oregon Law Library. In 2003, Bowie joined as the library as its electronic services librarian, and she is credited with expertise in vendor negotiations that fostered the variety of electronic services available within and outside the Oregon Department of Justice. At the request of Paul De Muniz, then Oregon Supreme Court chief justice, Bowie implemented the Brief Bank Project, an electronic archive of court briefs that paved the way for Oregon鈥檚 eFiling system.

Now the state鈥檚 head law librarian, Bowie said she has enjoyed the challenge of learning the state鈥檚 legal procedures and processes. She also appreciates the opportunity to touch on politics in the work she does, though her position is not political.

鈥淚 enjoy working with the courts because they have to look at both sides,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 love working with highly intelligent people who look at the law differently and want to do the right thing.鈥�

Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum said Bowie鈥檚 commitment to the community, her impact on the state鈥檚 law library and judicial department, and her numerous professional accomplishments set her apart as an unsung hero.

鈥淥n a personal note, Cathryn is always a joy to work with and a pleasure to be around,鈥� Rosenblum said. 鈥淗er sense of humor and helpfulness make each visit to the library a delight.鈥�

Norma Freitas, associate director of Career & Professional Development at Willamette University鈥檚 law school, highlighted Bowie鈥檚 contributions to the Mary Leonard Law Society (MLLS) and Oregon Women Lawyers. Her volunteer work for the organizations includes promoting events, design and maintaining the MLLS鈥� website, and promoting the Marion County Bar Association鈥檚 Law Day event.

鈥淐at offers a unique perspective to lawyers 鈥� she encourages them to use technology to its greatest advantage to meet the needs of their clients,鈥� Freitas said. 鈥淪he is knowledgeable about services and resources, yet is able to communicate in a way that makes them understandable. And she does all of this with an understated sense of humor.鈥�