Spotlight on Former Athlete: Louis

When he returned to the USL Campus in 1961 to teach Health and Physical Education, this Buras High school graduate of 1954 had no idea he would introduce a new sport to the university’s athletic offerings.  He had always been a hard worker on the athletic field in high school and had lettered four years in football, basketball, and baseball. It was through track that he visited the SLI campus as a participant in the Southwestern Relays and experienced the Lafayette hospitality first-hand.  Click here for Louis Bowers’ athletic network profile http://athleticnetwork.net/site.php?pageID=55&profID=3233 

Lou enrolled at SLI in 1954 majoring in Health & Physical Education and Science Education. A very determined and persistent athlete, he tried out for the baseball team in 1955, 1956, and 1957, only to be cut from the team each year on the last day. Click here to see L. Bowers pictured with the 1957 Baseball Team  http://athleticnetwork.net/picpopup.php?piclibID=6303

Lou recalls participating in each of the track meets of 1955.  Click here for his picture as a member of the 1955 Track Team http://athleticnetwork.net/picpopup.php?piclibID=7176

In 1955 Lou enrolled in a tennis class taught by Bill Stevenson, H&PE professor who also was the Men’s Varsity Tennis Coach. Stevenson invited him out for the team and the rest is history.  Lou was a member of the tennis team in 1956, 1957, and 1958.  Click here for a picture of him with his 1958 Tennis teammates  http://athleticnetwork.net/site1549.php

After returning to USL from a leave of absence to complete his doctorate in Physical Education from LSU, Lou taught a beginning wrestling class. When members of the class approached him to arrange some additional competition, he contacted the LSU Coach and arranged a meet with them.  Later the team asked Dr. Bowers to help form a Wrestling Club and to be the faculty advisor.  The SGA provided $600 for uniforms and travel expenses for the 1965 season and the Wrestling Club was off and running. One of the highlights of the first year of competition was a win on LSU.

After Dr. Bowers left the university, he distinguished himself professionally at the state, regional, national and international levels and at the University of South Florida.  He was one of the graduates recognized by the UL College of Education in 1998 during the centennial academic showcase in 1998 and has also been recognized by the UL Department of Health and Physical Education as one of its Distinguished Alumni.

Dr. Bowers retired in 2000. His wife, RoseAnne is also a retired educator. They are actively engaged in travel, research, writing and community volunteer service. 

Lou attended the 50th reunion of his SLI graduating class of 1958.  He had a great time and enjoyed a visit with his good friend, Gale Breaux. In his profile Lou stated that the first person he met on campus was Gale Breaux from Indian Bayou who was a member of the SLI basketball team and who became a life long friend.

Click here   http://athleticnetwork.net/picpopup.php?piclibID=6413   to view Lou and his friend Gale Breaux at a Physical Education Majors Club meeting.  Other pictures of Lou with professional student groups may be viewed in the Miscellaneous page of the photo gallery.  Scroll down until you locate the picture you wish to view and click on the thumbnail.

The Athletic Network is honored to place the Spotlight on Former Athlete on Dr. Louis Bowers during the month of March, 2009.

The Photo Gallery on the left side of the home page at http://www.athleticnetwork.net contains over 8,000 pictures of former and current athletes and support groups.  Just point and click to view teams or groups by year.  One click on a thumbnail picture and it is enlarged; a click on the enlarged photo and it reverts back to the thumbnail.