Coker College honors two alumni

HARTSVILLE — Coker College recently presented its 2009 alumni awards to a doctor and a university athletics director.

Judy Southard, senior associate athletics director at Louisiana State University (LSU) in Baton Rouge, is the recipient of Coker College’s 2009 Alumni Distinguished Achievement Award. She is also senior woman administrator for LSU Athletics. Southard graduated from Coker in 1970 with a degree in physical education.

Podiatrist Dr. Phillip R. Dowdy Jr. is Coker College’s 2009 Outstanding Young Alumni Award winner. He graduated from Coker in 1999 with a degree in chemistry and is practicing in Somerset, Ky. Dowdy specializes in foot and ankle surgery, foot and ankle sports medicine, and diabetic wound care.

At LSU, Southard oversees the Tiger Olympic Sports program including 17 NCAA Division I men’s and women’s sports. She has direct supervision of volleyball, women’s basketball, softball, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, and men’s and women’s golf as well as responsibilities in monitoring the athletic department’s gender equity and diversity plan.

Southard recently completed a productive tenure as a member of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee, serving as committee chair from 2006 to 2008. She also served as a member of the SEC Executive Committee from 2004 to 2007.

Before joining the LSU Athletics, Southard was the director of athletics at Texas Woman’s University. Prior to that, she was the head coach at the University of Tennessee-Martin.

Earlier in her career, Southard was the head women’s basketball coach at Marshall University, leading the Lady Herd to five Southern Conference titles. Southard also served as the Assistant Director of Athletics, Senior Woman Administrator, and the Interim Director of Athletics at Marshall.

A native of Columbia, Southard started her athletic career coaching the women’s West FlorenceHigh School basketball team following her graduation from Coker College. She earned a master’s degree in physical education from the University of Tennessee in 1978.

Dowdy completed his residency in podiatric medicine and surgery at Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital in Michigan. In addition to his work at the hospital, he routinely volunteered at a clinic for the working uninsured and provided free foot screenings at health fairs.

The Henry Ford Hospital presented Dowdy with its Outstanding Humanitarian Service Award in 2006 for his dedication and commitment to his profession. He is a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association.

Dowdy earned his doctor of podiatric medicine from Barry University School of Graduate Medical Sciences in 2006. He is a native of Russell, Ky.

Southard and Dowdy received their awards at Coker’s homecoming Oct. 3.