Born: September 3, 1951
Hometown: Tupelo, MS
Year Induction: 2010
Deceased : July 11, 1994
Carver High School, Tupelo, MS (1967)
Tupelo (MS) High School (1968-1970)
Mississippi State University (1969-1972)
NFL Draft: 16th round, 391st pick overall by the Philadelphia Eagles; did not report (’73)
AT&T district manager in Georgia, New Jersey & California
Enrolled in Memphis Theological Seminary (’93)
First African American to represent national 4-H Club in report made to Pres. Richard Nixon (’71)
One of only two MSU athletes to ever receive the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete Award (’72)
First African-American elected “Mr. MSU” as voted by fellow MIssissippi State students (’72)
Frank Dowsing has been repeatedly refered to as “The Jackie Robinson of Mississippi” because he had the temperament, talent and intelligence to pioneer the transition to integrated public schools in Mississippi. More than 40 years after their graduation, Dowsing’s classmates and teammates are still fiercely loyal. Recalled Tupelo High football coach Tom Cheney, “We were playing one of the teams in the Delta and one of my players came out of the game and said, ‘You won’t believe what they’re saying and doing to Frank out there.’ Frank played on and never said a word.”
601-982-8264
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
MONDAY – SATURDAY
The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum celebrates the Magnolia State’s incredibly rich history of producing world-class athletes and teams. The mission of the Mississipi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum is to preserve, protect and promote Mississippi’s rich sports heritage for this and future generations.
© 2018 Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame | Privacy Policy
Website & Marketing by Nuzu Digital