Clyde B Bothmer

Clyde B. Bothmer was born Aug. 8, 1924, in the village of Brownsville, Minnesota. He died Monday, Oct. 9, 2017. After naval service in the Pacific theater during World War II, he attended the University of Iowa, where he earned an AB in political science and a JD, with high distinction, in law. He was a member of the Iowa and the District of Columbia bars. He entered government service in 1951 through a management assistance program known as the JMA program. He was one of 400 selected from a group of more than 14,000 college graduate applicants. During the next 22 years, he served, among other positions, as director of small business for the Defense Department; director of management for NASA's Manned Space office; secretary of the Defense Industry Advisory Council; and deputy associate administrator of the Small Business Administration. He rose from a GS 6 trainee to a GS 18 level excepted position, the highest civil service grade, in 11 years. In his 22 years of government service, he received 12 Outstanding Service awards, as well as two Meritorious Service medals. Mr. Bothmer had the privilege, during his career, of working on programs of direct interest to three presidents: President Kennedy, who inaugurated and chaired the Whitehouse Committee on Small Business, upon which Mr. Bothmer served; and Presidents Johnson and Nixon, both of whom involved themselves directly in the small business minority procurement programs. These efforts to aid minority firms were implemented under a public law that fell within Mr. Bothmer's area of responsibility in SBA. The high point in Mr. Bothmer's career probably occurred early in the lunar landing program. He had the pleasure, during that period, to serve on a management steering group, a committee chaired by the first director of Manned Space, Brainerd Holmes. The committee, which included Wernher von Braun, met regularly to review the progress and chart the future court of the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs. After leaving the government in 1973, Mr. Bothmer became a principal associate in a Washington-based consulting firm. He subsequently did consulting work for several U.S. government departments and agencies, as well as for the governments of Brazil and Panama. However, he found ample time to enjoy golf, tennis, fishing, reading and duplicate bridge. He is survived by his dearly loved wife and companion of 70 years, Evelyn P. Bothmer. Mrs. Bothmer continues to reside in Kerrville. No Services. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Clyde B Bothmer please visit our Sympathy Store.

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