I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5363 
To award posthumously a Congressional Gold Medal to Robert Cleckler 
(‘‘Bobby’’) Bowden, in honor of his achievements both on and off the 
football field. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 8, 2023 
Mr. DUNN of Florida (for himself, Mr. DONALDS, Mr. WALTZ, Mr. WEBSTER 
of Florida, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. BUCHANAN, Mr. POSEY, and Ms. SALA-
ZAR) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Financial Services 
A BILL 
To award posthumously a Congressional Gold Medal to Rob-
ert Cleckler (‘‘Bobby’’) Bowden, in honor of his achieve-
ments both on and off the football field. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Robert Cleckler 
(‘Bobby’) Bowden Congressional Gold Medal Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds the following: 
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(1) Robert Cleckler (‘‘Bobby’’) Bowden was 
born on November 8, 1929, in Birmingham, Ala-
bama. 
(2) Bobby Bowden served as head coach of the 
Florida State University Seminoles from 1976 to 
2009. 
(3) While coaching at the Florida State Univer-
sity, Bobby Bowden’s teams won two national cham-
pionships (1993 and 1999) and 12 Atlantic Coast 
Conference titles. 
(4) Bobby Bowden posted a 316–97–4 record in 
his 34 years at Florida State University. 
(5) Throughout his entire 44 years of coaching 
college football, Bobby Bowden won a total of 377 
games, making him one of the winningest coaches in 
college football history. 
(6) Bobby Bowden and wife, Ann Estock, his 
childhood sweetheart, have been married for 72 
years. The couple has six children, 21 grandchildren 
and great-grandchildren. 
(7) In 1999, he coached what would be the first 
of many games against a team coached by his son, 
‘‘The Bowden Bowl’’. This event was the first of its 
kind in the history of Division I–A football. 
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(8) In 2004, the Fellowship of Christian Ath-
letes’ organization began presenting an annual ‘‘The 
National Bobby Bowden Award’’ to a football player 
for philanthropic work. 
(9) In 2011, he was awarded the ‘‘Children’s 
Champion Award for Leadership Development’’ by 
the Children’s Hunger Fund, a charitable organiza-
tion, in recognition of his humanitarian work. 
(10) In 2021, Bobby Bowden received the inau-
gural Florida Governor’s Medal of Freedom Award. 
(11) Bobby Bowden leaves a legacy of leader-
ship for his contributions on the football field and in 
his community. 
(12) While Bobby Bowden is recognized for his 
many football accomplishments, he will be remem-
bered as a family man who counted all as part of 
his family and encouraged us all to recognize our 
own humanity and love our many brothers and sis-
ters. 
(13) We are better for having known him, even 
if we never met him. He stood for our best, recog-
nized our failings, and believed we all had merit. 
(14) Bobby Bowden’s spirit is the American 
spirit of which we can be proud and seek to emulate 
in both large and small ways. 
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(15) Bobby Bowden never asked for accolades, 
and for this, and the totality of his life and his love, 
we honor him in perpetuity. 
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL. 
(a) PRESENTATION AUTHORIZED.—The Speaker of 
the House of Representatives and the President pro tem-
pore of the Senate shall make appropriate arrangements 
for the posthumous presentation, on behalf of the Con-
gress, of a gold medal of appropriate design in commemo-
ration to Mr. Robert Cleckler (‘‘Bobby’’) Bowden, in rec-
ognition of his achievements both on and off the football 
field. 
(b) DESIGN AND STRIKING.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—For the purpose of the 
award referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of 
the Treasury (in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Sec-
retary’’) shall strike a gold medal with suitable em-
blems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined by 
the Secretary. 
(2) IMAGE.—The emblems, devices, and inscrip-
tions determined by the Secretary shall include an 
inscription 
of 
the 
name 
of 
Robert 
Cleckler 
(‘‘Bobby’’) Bowden. 
(c) DISPOSITION OF MEDAL.—Following the award 
of the gold medal under subsection (a), the gold medal 
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shall be given to Mr. Robert Cleckler (‘‘Bobby’’) Bowden’s 
next of kin. 
SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS. 
(a) STRIKING OF DUPLICATES.—The Secretary may 
strike duplicates in bronze of the gold medal struck under 
section 3. 
(b) SELLING OF DUPLICATES.—The Secretary may 
sell such duplicates under subsection (a) at a price suffi-
cient to cover the costs of such duplicates, including labor, 
materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses. 
SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS. 
(a) NATIONAL MEDALS.—Medals struck under this 
Act are national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 
31, United States Code. 
(b) NUMISMATIC ITEMS.—For purposes of section 
5134 of title 31, United States Code, all medals struck 
under this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items. 
SEC. 6. AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS; PROCEEDS OF 
SALE. 
(a) AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS.—There is 
authorized to be charged against the United States Mint 
Public Enterprise Fund such amounts as may be nec-
essary to pay for the costs of the medals struck pursuant 
to this Act. 
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(b) PROCEEDS OF SALE.—Amounts received from the 
sale of duplicate bronze medals authorized under section 
4 shall be deposited into the United States Mint Public 
Enterprise Fund. 
Æ 
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