Max was born in Perry, Iowa, to Jean and Orie Bowman, and completed high school there while developing a passion for construction through working with his stepfather, Charlie Paist. Following a sales position with a local construction equipment business, All Wheel Drive, Max partnered with his wife and a friend, Roger Bills, to open Star Equipment, Ltd. in 1968. Max continued working at his company part-time in his later years, coming into the office until he was 82. Through humble beginnings they built the company whose goal was to solve their customers problems — hence the motto “The Problem Solvers.”
Max was a pioneer in his own right for the construction industry bringing many new and innovative products to the construction industry in Iowa. Max brought skid loaders to contractors and farmers in the late '60s, construction lasers to the sewer and general contractors in the '70s, concrete pumps in the late '70s and early '80s, and telehandlers in the '80s.
Max strongly believed in being an active part of whatever he was involved in, whether it was personal or in the construction industry. He believed if you were not a part of the industry and did not pay it forward then you couldn’t understand their needs nor properly help them. Industry associations Max was active in over the years included: Associated Equipment Distributors, Iowa Nebraska Equipment Dealers, Master Builders of Iowa, Associated General Contractors of Iowa, Iowa Concrete Paving Association, Associated Builders and Contractors of Iowa, National Utility Contractors Association of Iowa, Land Improvement Contractors of Iowa, Asphalt Paving Association of Iowa, American Concrete Pumping Association, Good Fellowship, Ames Home Builders Association, Home Builders Association of Des Moines, Masonry Institute of Iowa, and countless others.
Max and Beverly are very proud that their three sons continue this legacy throughout Iowa at four locations with over 80 employees. Max taught all his children that people buy from people, to take care of the customer, that everyone deserves a chance, and to treat your customer the way you want to be treated. These beliefs continue to be part of the company today.
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As a warm, kind, generous, and witty guy, Max made people laugh. Through giving of time and many other resources he has supported several organizations including Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation, Iowa State University, Shriners Hospitals for Children, and The Masonic Lodge. Max was a Freemason and enjoyed working with his colleagues at the King David Lodge #407 in Altoona. He was also a member of the Za-Ga-Zig Shriners and the Scottish Rite. Max often could be found slipping quietly into a church or the Scottish Rite Consistory helping and volunteering his time to any construction or construction related project. He loved driving his cars in the parades these organizations supported and driving the golf cart at the Iowa State Fair to support the Lodge.
