GEORGETOWN, Texas - Former Southwestern University Director of Athletics and 2012 Hall of Fame inductee Dr. Carla Lowry passed away Thursday, July 23, 2015 at the age of 76.
Dr. Lowry was a trailblazer for the Southwestern Athletics Department and women’s athletics in particular. She was announced as the first female director of athletics in the history of the University in 1984 and also served as chair of the department of kinesiology, another female first for Southwestern. By the time she retired in 2001 she had added the titles of associate dean of students and director of wellness and leisure.
“The Southwestern University community and Pirate Athletics are saddened at the loss of Dr. Carla Lowry,” said Director of Athletics Dr. Glada Munt. “She influenced so many lives throughout her career as an educator both on the national level and during her tenure at Southwestern. She was one of the true pioneers of women’s athletics; young female athletes owe thanks to people like Dr. Lowry who fought for equality in girls’ and women’s athletics. She will be truly missed as an educator, a colleague, a mentor, and most of all, as a friend.”
During her 17-year tenure, Lowry led Southwestern through the challenge of transitioning from a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) school to National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III institution. The change meant moving from an athletics scholarship granting university to a non-scholarship athletics department. Dr. Lowry not only guided the Pirates through this philosophical change, but also strengthened the department and its influence on student-athletes by increasing sport offerings, overseeing new construction and building renovation of the Corbin J. Robertson Center.
Not only an administrator, Dr. Lowry’s illustrious career included stints as an athlete, teacher, coach and noted scholar.
A star on the basketball court, Dr. Lowry was an AAU All-America selection for the famous Wayland Baptist Flying Queens that won two AAU national championships. She also represented the United States on the gold medal winning 1959 Pan American Games team and in 1961 captained the US National Team that toured Russia.
Dr. Lowry was inducted into the Southwestern University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012 and was the fourth institution to honor her. She is a member of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, Wayland Baptist University Athletic Hall of Honor, and Sam Houston State University Athletic Hall of Honor. Additionally, she received several national honors including the NAGWS Pathfinder Award and the NACWAA Lifetime Achievement Award.
Dr. Lowry earned a bachelor of arts degree from Wayland Baptist College in 1961, a master of arts from Texas Woman’s University in 1963 and completed her doctorate degree from Texas Woman’s University in 1972.
A service celebrating the life of Dr. Lowry will be held on Thursday, July 30th at 11 am in the Corbin J. Robertson Center on the campus of Southwestern University. A reception will immediately follow the service in the Robertson Center. Memorial gifts may be made to the Southwestern University Athletic Department, PO Box 770, Georgetown, TX 78627-0770.