Dr. Richard Elbert Cowan

residence. He was born in Floyd County, Georgia, on August 1,1942, and was the son of the late Julian E.

and Dora Eads Cowan.

He graduated from Armuchee High School in 1960 and Shorter College in 1964. After graduating

with a Ph. D from the University of Tennessee in 1969, Cowan returned to Shorter to pursue a teaching

career in mathematics which would span forty-six years. While at Shorter he served in numerous

positions including Chair of the Mathematics and Science Departments, faculty athletic representative,

and Athletic Director from 1979-1992. During his last three years he served as Director of Compliance in

the Athletic Department during the NCAA Division II transition.

Dr. Cowan was inducted into the Shorter College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008. He was

recognized with the Distinguished Service Award. Respected nationally. Cowan was an invaluable

resource to the NAIA on eligibility issues. In 1992 he was voted Athletic Director of the year and

Shorter's Teacher of the Year. In 2013, the editorial staff of the Argo dedicated its 100th issue to Dr.

Cowan. He was featured on the cover of the Shorter University Magazine in the Spring of 2015 edition.

He was named "Dr. Shorter" in honor of his deep love for the school. On September 15, 2015, Shorter

honored him one more time by naming a Scholarship Endowment Fund in his name.

Dr. Cowan was a member of the Rome Rotary Club since January 1972, the West Rome Camp of

Gideons International, and the Garden Lakes Baptist Church. While at Garden Lakes Baptist Church he

served in various leadership capacities including Sunday school teacher, choir member, deacon, and

deacon chairman.

Survivors include his wife, Deborah Latham Cowan to whom he was married on June 8,1971,

one son and daughter-in-law Richard Watson and Silvia Cowan of Houston, Texas, one daughter and

son-in-law Blake and Dorothy Ramsey of Cedartown, and one grandson, Alexander Watson Cowan of

Houston, Texas.

Funeral services for Dr. Cowan were held at 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, October 27, 2015, at Garden

Lakes Baptist Church with Dr. Donald Dowless and Dr. Dan Whitaker officiating. Interment will follow at

Oaknoll Memorial Gardens. The family received friends Monday, October 26, 2015. from 6:00-9:00 at

Garden Lakes Baptist Church.

The Bill Culpepper Sunday School class of Garden Lakes Baptist Church served as pallbearers.

Honorary Pallbearers were members of the Armuchee High School class of 1960.

Memorials may be sent to the Dr. Richard Cowan Scholarship Fund at Shorter University, 315 Shorter Ave., Rome, GA 30165.

Daniel’s Funeral Home is in charge of the services.