TUPELO, Miss. (AP) - It was a full house at the Oren Dunn City Museum Thursday (Feb. 6) evening as Tupelo leaders, residents and family and friends gathered to honor the legacy of Frank Dowsing and Sam Bell.
Both honorees are credited for being community leaders and breaking racial barriers through their service and accomplishment. Dowsing helped integrate Tupelo High School and, alongside Robert Bell, was one of the first African American football players at Mississippi State University.
Sam Bell also saw athletic success as the quarterback of the George Washington Carver Blue Devils 1955 district championship team, but also went on to be involved with nonprofits such as United Way, Big Brothers Big Sisters and others. He was a long-time treasurer for Lane CME, and the first African American to hold various jobs and state positions.
Frank Dowsing’s sister, Virginia Frances Toliver, was in attendance as the late Dowsing received the Tupelo Spirit Award and thanked the city of Tupelo for choosing to honor her late brother. She said Tupelo has been very good to her brother and seeing many of Dowsing’s classmates, teammates and friends from Pontotoc, Tupelo and Mississippi State showed the impact he had on others.
“Frank, without trying to be a crusader or an activist, really bridged a lot of racial barriers both here and in Mississippi State,” Toliver said.
While Toliver spoke of her brother’s athletic accomplishments, she noted that her brother also accomplished other firsts and was invested in the youth. There are two current scholarships in his honor, both of which she said would make him proud because he was very concerned with the future.
Dowsing served as a support for her own daughter while she attended a predominantly white institution, telling her to “know your own strength,” and how that is how he accomplished what he did.
“He experienced a lot of bigotry and racial discrimination, but that did not define him because he knew who he was, and the important thing is to always treat people right,” Toliver said. “… (He) appreciated the dignity and honor of all people regardless of race.”
Tupelo Mayor Jason Shelton noted how Dowsing played a transformative part at both Tupelo and Mississippi State. Rockey Felker, Missississippi State University director of Player Personnel and former teammate of Dowsing’s, spoke about looking up to Dowsing not only for being a scholar athlete, but also for his reputation as a positive teammate who was always respectful.
Former Daily Journal sports editor Gene Phelps also spoke about Dowsing’s legacy, having done a lot of research about Dowsing following his death and being part of efforts alongside former Tupelo mayor Jack Reed and others to honor Dowsing’s athletic legacy.
City Council President Nettie Davis presented Bell with the Medallion Award for his outstanding work in leadership and involvement with several organizations. For Bell, the honor is mostly a surprise because he never did any of his work for recognition. He said he mostly likes helping people.
“I’m a people person, and what hurts me is when I run into a situation where a person needs help and I can’t help them. It wears on me the most, but as long as I can help somebody, that’s OK. I love it,” Bell said.
Bell said he was “speechless” to receive the award.
“It’s one of the greatest. I didn’t think this would ever happen (and) hadn’t thought about it happening to me,” Bell said. “… For me being recognized, I just can’t believe it. I’m flying high right now. I’m hydroplaning.”
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