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SPORTS
School district to honor 1962 grad
CHESAPEAKE -- The Chesapeake Union Exempted Village School district will host a pre-game reception on Friday, Sept. 12 to honor Sonny Stowers, a 1962 graduate who had a distinguished high school and collegiate football career.
At Chesapeake High School, Stowers was captain of the 1961 football team, which was the first in school history to go undefeated. As a senior that same year, he set a scoring record and won all-state honors. Additionally, he was awarded the Kennedy Trophy as the area's most outstanding player. He also received the Paul "Runt" Foster award as the Huntington Amateur Athlete of the Year in 1965.
Stowers received numerous offers from colleges to play football, including an invitation from Woody Hayes at Ohio State University. He finally decided on West Point, where he was regularly named outstanding lineman in many of Army's games. He was voted Army team captain his senior year and scored a touchdown against Navy in a game that ended in a 7-7 tie.
In 1964, Stowers had a noteworthy performance in the annual Army vs. Navy game. Stowers played more than 55 minutes in a valiant Army win over Navy, where he sacked quarterback Roger Staubach for a safety in the first minute of the game. Following the game, Staubach said, "That was the hardest rush I've faced except for Penn State."
For his efforts, Stowers was chosen as Lineman of the Week in the Dec. 7, 1964 edition of Sport's Illustrated. The article read: "Sonny Stowers, 195-pound Army linebacker, dumped Navy's Roger Staubach for an early safety and then concentrated on the furious charge that held the Middies to a mere 32 yards rushing."
Stowers is the president of Stowers-Lillagore Construction Equipment Company in Ellenwood, Ga., and is currently semi-retired. He is married to Charlotte Stowers, Ed.D., a retired high school principal from the Cobb County Schools. Dr. Stowers received honors as both a teacher and principal of the year. They have two children, Meme Peponis who is an attorney with a law firm in Manhattan, and Christopher Stowers who is part owner in an electronics firm and a retired professional baseball player from the Montreal Expos.
A reception will be held at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 12 in the Chesapeake High School Cafeteria to honor Sonny Stowers for his outstanding athletic accomplishments in football. Following the reception, Stowers' No. 40 jersey will be retired at the pre-game ceremony.
"We are pleased to have the opportunity to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of Mr. Stowers and invite the community to join us at the reception in his honor," Chesapeake Superintendent Scott Howard said in a press release.
During the school day on Sept. 12, Stowers will speak to Chesapeake's middle and high school students.
