Former FCHS Star “Dee” Dowis Dies in Wreck

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

The Franklin County community is mourning the loss of former standout quarterback Michael “Dee” Dowis.

Dowis, who starred in football at both Franklin County High School and the Air Force Academy, was killed in a wreck Monday in metro Atlanta.

According to the Gwinnett County Police, Dowis died in a wreck on Interstate 85 Northbound at about 5 a.m. Monday.

The Gwinnett Police Department’s Accident Investigation Unit said Dowis had entered the northbound lane of I-85 traveling in the wrong direction.

Police said Dowis apparently realized his mistake and was trying to back his vehicle up in the center median when he was hit by a vehicle traveling northbound.
The report said Dowis was not wearing a seatbelt and died at the scene.

The driver of the other car suffered non-life threatening injuries and was transported to the hospital.

Dowis, who lived in Greenville, was inducted into the Franklin County Sports Hall of Fame as a charter member in 1998.

Former Franklin County High School Football Coach Jeff Davis remembered Dowis as a determined young man with tremendous ability.

“He had God-given talent, but he worked at it,” Davis said. “He was one of those special athletes. He had the ability to see the open field. He had the ability to make good decisions, but he made good decisions on and off the field.”

Davis went on to say that while Dowis was not the biggest player on the field, he was one of the most supportive when it came to his teammates.

“You very seldom find this combination of greatness, yet being so humble,” Davis remembered. “He always recognized his teammates. He always gave them the credit they deserved. He always put them first. Dee didn’t care about all the hype. He just wanted to be successful and he wanted people around him to be successful.”
According to his Wikipedia biography, Dowis was generally regarded as one of the best option quarterbacks in NCAA history and finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1989.

As a quarterback for the U.S. Air Force football team, Dowis set the NCAA Division I career record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 3,612, became the fifth player in Division I history to both pass and rush for 1,000 yards, was an honorable mention All-American, and was the Western Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year.

At the time of his death, Dowis was working as a manager for Pfizer pharmaceuticals.

Dowis leaves behind a wife and two children.

“He left a great example for his kids. He left a great example for his family. It’s a sad day for the Franklin County Community, I can tell you that,” Davis said.

Funeral arrangements for Dee Dowis are incomplete and will be announced as they become available.

He was 48 years old.