Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1999
Dowda was a running back for the Demon Deacons from 1945 to 1948. Born in Atlanta, Dowda served in World War II as a paratrooper with the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions, making two jumps during the Battle of the Bulge. While in the service, he also played football, and that led to his acceptance of a scholarship to play football at Wake Forest after his discharge.
While at Wake Forest, Dowda played right halfback and defensive back, helping lead the Deacons to the Dixie Bowl following the 1948 season. Known as "Big Stick From Hickory," Dowda served as Wake's captain in 1948.
Drafted by the Redskins in 1949, he was a starting defensive back for Washington for five years before being traded to the Eagles. Dowda played for the Eagles in 1954-55 before a knee injury ended his career. He finished with 16 career interceptions.
After one season as an assistant coach at George Washington University, Dowda was invited by former teammate Ed Hoey to join him as a business associate with Fair Lane Bowling, Inc. He spent three decades with that company, supervising its growth and development throughout the U.S. and overseas.
Dowda was born Dec. 29, 1922 and passed away on June 24, 1996 at his vacation home in Wintergreen, Va., of a heart attack.
