“Cool” Doug Dowler led Stivers to its first city football championship for the school in 17 years. Coach Jim Hanby was quoted in the Dayton Daily News”Dowler is the coolest player I’ve seen in a long time” after Dowler directed the Stivers team to the city league championship. The 1954 Stivers team had a record of 7 wins and 2 losses with much of the teams success due to Doug’s calm attitude and ability as a quarterback. For his play throughout the season, Doug was named 1st Team quarterback on the Dayton Daily News-Coaches All-City Team.
Dowler was selected as “Player of the Week” by the Dayton Daily News for his play in the victory over Kiser to claim the 1954 City Championship. He was an excellent passer and had good receivers in Dick Hartle, Dan Wheeler and Bobby Logan. Doug led the Blue All-Star team to a 12-0 victory in the annual Red-Blue All Star Game. This game completed his career at Stivers in which he played 4 years of football and 2 years of basketball. After Stivers, Doug played basketball and softball for several years with teams in the Dayton area. In fact, Doug played softball on one of those teams with Stivers Hall of Fame members Bobby Logan, Vern Woods, Jack Harner and Bobby Joe Brown.
Dowler was offered several college football scholarships but elected to become an apprentice in sheet metal work and HVAC industry. He and his wife, Sondra, established a company with over 50 employees. Doug and his wife Sondra celebrated their 56th anniversary in August 2011. Sam Morgan served as Doug’s Best Man in the wedding. They have one son, Doug Dowler Jr., two daughters, Kimberly and Julia with three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Doug has been retired since 1995 and continues to enjoy his retirement.