E. R. Cowell

Everett Russell "Shorty" Cowell (September 24, 1897 – July 15, 1931) was an American football and basketball coach. He served as the football coach at Sterling College in Sterling, Kansas from 1926 to 1927, compiling a record of 8–8. Cowell was also the head basketball coach at Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas from 1923 to 1925, tallying a mark of 16–20. He attended Kansas State Agricultural College—now known as Kansas State University—where lettered in football, basketball, and baseball.

E. R. Cowell
Cowell pictured in Royal purple 1921, Kansas Agricultural yearbook
Biographical details
Born(1897-09-24)September 24, 1897
Clay Center, Kansas
DiedJuly 15, 1931(1931-07-15) (aged 33)
Clay Center, Kansas
Playing career
Football
1919–1920Kansas State
Basketball
1918–1921Kansas State
Baseball
1919–1920Kansas State
Position(s)Quarterback, halfback (football)
Guard (basketball)
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Football
1921–1922Norton HS (KS)
1923–1925Ottawa (assistant)
1926–1927Sterling
Basketball
1923–1925Ottawa
Head coaching record
Overall8–8 (college football)
16–20 (college basketball)

Early life and playing career

Cowell was born in Clay Center, Kansas on September 24, 1897 to Jasper Cowell, originally of England, and his wife, Effie.[1] He was an alumnus of Kansas State Agricultural College—now known as Kansas State University—where he graduated from in the field of "animal husbandry" in 1921.[2][3] During his time at Kansas State, Cowell played on the school's baseball team in the 1919 and 1920 seasons, the football team from 1917 to 1920 and also the basketball team from at least 1918, to his graduation year of 1921.[2] He had also earned nine total letters in baseball and football.[4][5] On the football field, Cowell, nicknamed "Shorty", was said to have "a combination of physique, speed and football sense", rendering him a very effective halfback.[2] His brother, Warren (Brady) also played on the team in 1920, as a halfback.[2] Cowell was also an accomplished varsity basketball player, having been named to the All-Missouri Valley varsity team in 1918 and 1919 seasons as a guard.[2][5] He was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity.[6]

Coaching career

Prior to his graduation and during his years as a player, Cowell coached a football team in his hometown of Clay Center.[4] Upon graduation from college, Cowell coached football at Norton High School in Norton, Kansas, from 1921 to 1922.[5] In 1923, Cowell accepted a position at Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas as an assistant under coach Edwin Elbel, when it was stated that he had "one of the best football teams in the state".[7][6] He remained at Ottawa until the conclusion of the 1925 football season, when he resigned in protest of a new university policy that would require the coach to teach at the college as well.[5] He was then hired at Sterling to succeed Warren Woody for the 1926 season.[8] Cowell was the head football coach at Sterling College in Sterling, Kansas for two seasons, from 1926 to 1927, compiling a record of 8–8.[9][10]

In 1927, Cowell was elected vice president of the Mid-Continent Athletic Association.[11] He died on July 15, 1931 and was buried at Greenwood Cemetery at Clay Center.[12][13]

Head coaching record

College football
Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs
Sterling Warriors (Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference) (1926–1927)
1926 Sterling 4–44–37th
1927 Sterling 4–44–49th
Sterling: 8–88–7
Total:8–8

References
  1. "Everett Cowell in household of Jasper Cowell, "United States Census, 1900"". Familysearch.org. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  2. "Royal purple". Archive.org. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  3. Camp, Walter (1928). Official Foot Ball Guide - Walter Camp. Retrieved April 24, 2013 – via Google Books.
  4. "Cowell New O.U. Coach". The Ottawa Campus. Ottawa, Kansas. May 1, 1923. p. 1. Retrieved October 27, 2020 – via Newspapers.com .
  5. "On Kansas Gridirons". Lawrence Journal-World. p. March 5, 1925. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  6. The Rainbow of Delta Tau Delta. 1924. Retrieved April 24, 2013 – via Google Books.
  7. Smith Haworth, B (1957). Ottawa University: its history and spirit - B. Smith Haworth - Google Books. Retrieved April 24, 2013 – via Google Books.
  8. "Ottawa Coach Resigns". Lawrence Journal-World. September 25, 1925. p. 12. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  9. DeLassus, David. "Sterling College Records By Year (incomplete data)". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on June 22, 2015. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
  10. "Football Media Guide" (PDF). Sterling Warriors. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
  11. "New Kansas Group Elects Officers". Lawrence Journal-World. November 26, 1927. p. 12. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  12. "Greenwood Cemetery, Clay Center, Kansas". Claycenter.info. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
  13. ""Pedigree Resource File", database entry for Everett Russell /Cowell/". FamilySearch. Retrieved April 24, 2013.
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