Lowell Ledbetter Alumni Endowed Scholarship

A conversation with Steven W. Dowling and Laura Ledbetter Dowling.

Why did you choose to create a scholarship at Auburn University?
This scholarship honors Laura’s father, Lowell Ledbetter, for his love for Auburn, his years of service to Auburn, and for instilling a deep love for Auburn in his children and grandchildren. To date, both of his children and their spouses have degrees from AU, and ten of his grandchildren and their spouses either have degrees from AU or are enrolled at AU working on degrees.

What would you want the recipients of this scholarship to know about the person for whom it is named?
Lowell Ledbetter got two degrees from AU, and then worked for AU until he retired. At the age of 82 he still watches or listens to AU sports games and keeps up with goings on at Auburn. He still serves others, and is still pastoring others, and is devoted to his savior Jesus Christ.

Tell us about your Auburn story, favorite tradition, a “War Eagle!” moment, or what Auburn has meant to you.
Our favorite Auburn story is that we (Steve and Laura) met there. Our oldest daughter and her husband also met at Auburn. Laura and her brother, Chuck, grew up on Auburn’s campus, as their father, Lowell Ledbetter, worked as Foreign Student Advisor in Mary E. Martin Hall with Dean James E. Foy, and later at Foy Student Union Building as the Director. Their mother, Linda Ledbetter, worked for the Alumni Association for several years, and then in Food Services at War Eagle Cafeteria, Terrell Dining Hall, and finally at Sewell Hall. Laura and Chuck were allowed to play all over campus after school and on weekends, and considered it as familiar as home. Their father started allowing Laura to check out books on his card at Ralph Brown Draughon library when she was 12, which reinforced her love of books and reading, and paved the way for her to major in English at AU. Laura also started working at War Eagle Cafeteria when she was 14 and continued working there through her freshman year. We are thankful that our family is also a part of our Auburn Family!

What do you hope your recipients gain through this scholarship?
We hope they gain the same caliber of education and level of personal growth that we did.