Roll Call Tribute

James Albertson Cowan, Jr. 

November 4, 1934 - October 13, 2024 

James A. Cowan, Jr. died on October 13, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas at the age of 89. He will be dearly missed. Jim was born on November 4th, 1934, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to Opal Wilson and Colonel James A. Cowan. He was raised in Houston, Texas and would go on to graduate from Texas A&M university in 1956. While at A&M, Jim was a member of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band, the Corps of Cadets, and the Ross Volunteers. He kept the Aggie spirit alive throughout his life, taking trips with the Travelling Aggies, attending several class reunions with bandmates, and supporting the Aggie football team every chance he had. 

Jim’s life changed forever in 1953 when he met a young woman named Dorothy Newland and fell in love immediately. After months of hitchhiking between College Station and Austin, Jim called “Dottie” and asked her to marry him. They were married on July 21, 1956, and were blessed with three wonderful daughters: Liz, Susan and Barbara. Jim & Dottie celebrated 68 years of marriage this summer.

Jim proudly served his country as a member of the U.S. Air Force. Jim and Dottie were stationed overseas at the U.S. Air Force Base in Chambley, France from 1957-1959. The Cowans returned to the United States, where Jim earned a Master of Automotive Engineering from the Chrysler Institute and a Master of Business Administration from Indiana University. Jim was a registered Professional Engineer and worked for several large corporations, including: Chrysler, Schlumberger, International Harvester, Crown Coach, and General Electric. Although he retired in 2000, he was an engineer for the rest of his life, always willing to roll up his sleeves and pop the hood to solve a problem. After retirement, Jim and Dottie enjoyed playing bridge, travelling and getting in a few rounds of golf. They particularly enjoyed visiting their growing family. Jim was proud of the fact that he travelled to each of the fifty United States and all the Canadian provinces.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Opal and James, and his daughter Liz Alteri. He is survived by his wife Dottie, his daughters Susan Carmona, his daughter Barbara Barajas and her husband John, his sister Carolyn, his six grandchildren, his five great-grandchildren, and his beloved dog Spike. Jim’s family will remember his love for musicals and war movies, his ability to identify any car at any time, his skill as a bridge player, his talent as a cellist, and his willingness to laugh at Aggie jokes. He will be in our hearts forever.

A memorial service will be held at 2:30 pm in the High Flight Chapel on Saturday, November 2nd, with a reception to follow in the Road Runner Lounge. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in San Antonio, Texas.