John Bownds held a Ph.D. in Mathematics, and was involved in search and rescue from 1972. He worked for the University of Arizona, and then for Oak Ridge National Labs. He co-authored the CASIE search software and was the driving force behind the experiments that tested the effectiveness of helicopters in desert and mountain searches.

He received the National Award from the National Association For Search And Rescue in 1991.

John contracted a fatal form of cocci-meningitus while searching for a lost person in Sonora, Mexico. He died from the disease in 1993 at age 51.

John was one of nature's gentlemen, and he is missed by all who knew him.

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." St John 15:13.