Frank Dowsing (2019) - Hall of Fame

Frank Dowsing

Induction:
2019
Class:
1972

Frank Dowsing and Robert Bell were Mississippi State's first African-American student-athletes. In 1969, Dowsing enrolled at State and joined the Bulldogs' freshman football team. A year later as a member of the varsity squad, he guided State to its first winning season in seven years.

The Tupelo native was a two-time All-SEC defensive back selection in 1971 and 1972. As a senior, Football News named him a first-team All-American. That same fall, he became the first player in MSU history to earn the prestigious honor of National Football Foundation National Scholar-Athlete. He finished his career as the school's all-time leader in interceptions with 10.

He was the first black student to win any sort of election at the school, and he won the highest honor of them all- Mr. Mississippi State in October 1972. After college, he was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles. Academics came first for Dowsing, and he decided to pursue medical school.

He died at the age of 42 on July 11, 1994. On Nov. 23, 2017, MSU formally dedicated the north end plaza of Davis Wade Stadium as the Dowsing-Bell Plaza, serving as a tribute to the two pioneers.

Before attending Mississippi State, Dowsing was one of five African-American students who chose to attend the previously all-white Tupelo High School.