At the same time, the recession of the early 1990s was causing an ongoing hemorrhage of the local aerospace industry. The lifeblood of the McDonnell Douglas Corporation was being slowly, painfully squeezed out of it. The once proud team of 51,000 employees was being reduced to a comparatively anemic 18,000. Bob Bowden, then 74, had long since retired from his career as an insurance agent. He was attending a special meeting of his local Rotary club to discuss education and the economy.
Studies show that reading provides children with a significant head start in school.
It was a major concern to the local Rotarians. And that's when a major inspiration struck Bob. Bob realized that the most effective way to reach the greatest number of young children was through the local school system. It didn't take long for Bob's idea to be warmly embraced. The idea was proposed at a meeting of school principals.