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Charles Bowsher

Charles Arthur Bowsher (May 30, 1931 – September 30, 2022) was an American businessman and politician. He served as the 6th Comptroller General of the United States from 1981 to 1996. During that period, he led the Government Accountability Office in addressing the savings and loan crisis and other major issues. He also served as the 5th Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller) during the Lyndon B. Johnson administration from 1967 to 1971.

Charles Bowsher

Charles Arthur Bowsher

(1931-05-30)May 30, 1931
Elkhart, Indiana, U.S.

September 30, 2022(2022-09-30) (aged 91)
Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.

Businessman, accountant

1950–1952

Early life[edit]

Bowsher was born in Elkhart, Indiana,[1] on May 30, 1931.[2][3] His father worked as an engineer for the New York Central Railroad. Bowsher attended public schools in his hometown and in Chicago.[3] He studied accounting at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, graduating with a bachelor's degree in 1953. He then joined the United States Army and served for two years, before obtaining a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago School of Business in 1956.[2][3]

Later life[edit]

Bowsher was inducted into the Accounting Hall of Fame in 1996, along with William Henry Beaver and Donald James Kirk.[5]


Bowsher later served as the Secretary-Treasurer/Budget Chairman for the Board of Directors of the Concord Coalition.[6] He also served on the board of directors of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.[7]

Personal life[edit]

Bowsher married Mary Mahoney in 1963. They met while he was working for Arthur Andersen,[3] and they remained married for 59 years until his death.[2] Together, they had two children.[2][3]


Bowsher died on September 30, 2022, at home in Bethesda, Maryland. He was 91 years old.[2]

Biography at SI International, where he is currently a director

Induction into Accounting Hall of Fame

Archived February 16, 2008, at the Wayback Machine

Biography at Accounting Hall of Fame

on C-SPAN

Appearances