Dowell "Doc" Fontenot

Dowell "Doc" Fontenot, 76,
passed away Thursday, September 6, 2007
in a local hospital.

Dowell was born in Vidrine, La on September 5, 1931. He attended Vidrine High School where he was a member of the high school boxing team, winning state championships in 1946 and 1947. He went on to attend McNeese Junior College in a boxing scholarship, winning two national boxing championships. Following college graduation, Dowell served two years in the U.S. Army. When he left the Army, he attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. While working toward his Masters of Education degree, he served as Student Athletic Trainer. In 1956, Dowell began his twenty-year career as the first Athletic Trainer at McNeese State College. In 1960, he attended Herman Hospital School of Physical Therapy. He returned to McNeese State College in his capacity as Athletic Trainer and Associate Professor. In 1975, he retired from McNeese and went into practice as the first private physical therapist in Calcasieu Parish, retiring from private practice in 1987. Dowell has received numerous honors throughout his career, including "Distinguished Faculty" award, McNeese "President's Cup", McNeese Hall of Fame, and Louisiana Athletic Trainer's Association Hall of Fame. In 2000, the Dowell "Doc" Fontenot Sports Medicine Center was dedicated, and in 2002, he was inducted into the Louisiana Physical Therapists Hall of Fame.

Dowell is survived by his wife, Madlyn Russell Fontenot, daughter Dana Fontenot Sorrells from Lake Charles, son Brett Alec Fontenot and daughter-in-law, Sylvia from Dallas, Texas, three grandchildren, Chandler Sorrells, Zachary Fontenot, and Camille Fontenot, two sisters, Bonnie Fontenot and Sherry Vidrine.

Dowell was preceded in death by his parents, Lula and Gilbert Fontenot, and brother Darnell Fontenot.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 2:30 pm, Monday, September 10, 2007 in Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church under direction of Johnson Funeral Home. Father Danny Torres will officiate. Visitation will be in the funeral home Sunday from 3 until 9 pm with a 7 pm rosary followed by a scriptural service led by Deacon Ray Menard and visitation will continue on Monday from 10 am until 2 pm.

Memorial may be made to the
Dowell "Doc" Fontenot Sports Medicine Center
at:
McNeese Sports Medicine
Attn. Jim Murphy
Box 92735
Lake Charles, La, 70609
or
charity of choice.