Alfred Anthony Dowtin

A native of Buncombe County, he was the son of the late Agnes Lillian Morgan Dowtin and Robert J. Dowtin, and was preceded in death by two brothers, Robert Dowtin of Candler and William Dowtin of Charlotte.

Al was an avid sports person and was known throughout the state for his athletic accomplishments in the 1930's and 1940's, especially in golf and was an All-American in basketball at Wake Forest College. He was a member of the Western North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, the Wake Forest University Sports Hall of Fame and the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. Sports Illustrated named him on of fifty top Athletes of the Century in North Carolina in their January, 2000 issue.

He was a 1927 graduate of Wake Forest College with a law degree. Soon after graduation, he became the Alumni Secretary of the college and served in that position for eleven years. Although the title was never given to him, he was considered by all athletes of that time as the first athletic director of the college and recognized by all as the first golf coach.

After eleven years at Wake Forest, he became an FBI agent and served in the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas. He resigned from the FBI to serve as a Lieutenant Commander in the US Navy during World War II in the Pacific.

Following the end of the war, he returned to the FBI briefly. His family and the mountains of western North Carolina drew him back to the area he loved most and where he spent the rest of his life.

He was the first Chief of Law Enforcement for the Asheville Alcoholic Beverage Control System from 1947-1973.

After retirement from the ABC, he opened a law office in Arden and maintained that office until last year. Throughout his life, he felt a personal responsibility for the welfare of his family.

Survivors include two brothers, James M. Dowtin of Arden and Rex Dowtin of Asheville and his special friend, Jean Stines of Asheville.

A funeral service will be conducted Thursday, January 10 at 11:00 AM in the chapel of Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian on Long Shoals Road with Reverend Stephen Summers officiating. Interment will follow in Calvary Episcopal Churchyard. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to Arden First Baptist Church Building Fund, 3839 Sweeten Creek Road, Arden, NC 28704 or the charity of one's choice.