Three losses southwest Mississippi could ill afford. See who they were

Mississippi’s southwestern corner can ill afford three major losses almost at once as it did with the recent passages of Ralph “Catfish” Smith, Dr. Hank Lewis and Bowdre McDowell.

This trio of unique individuals represented aspects of life that most Mississippians covet: sports, medicine and the U.S. military.

Each is deserving of comment on the contributions they made in their exceptional lives and careers.

Ralph “Catfish” Smith, a Brookhaven native and longtime resident of the McComb area, died Aug. 23. There are few athletes in the state who compiled a prep, college and professional record like Smith’s.

He earned 15 letters in four sports at Brookhaven High, then moved on to Ole Miss where from 1959-1962 he was a two-way football star at offensive and defensive end in the school’s “Glory Years” under legendary coach Johnny Vaught. He was All-SEC twice and a second team All-American choice.

Catfish, who was given the nickname by sportswriter Jimmie “Mississippi Red” McDowell, played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns and Atlanta Falcons. He operated a famous Mississippi-Louisiana line restaurant at Osyka, Skinney’s, for years after his retirement.

In Cleveland, Ralph forged a lifelong friendship with Browns star Jim Brown, considered among the best players in NFL history. They regularly saw each other after their careers ended. Jim came to Fernwood, south of McComb, to play golf with Smith, who returned the favor by visiting Brown in Cleveland. Smith leaves his wife, Louette Brewer Smith, and six children.

Dr. Henry “Hank” Lewis, 85, who died Sept. 1 in Amite County, rose from a home without electricity or running water to become one of the region’s most beloved physicians, delivering more than 1,200 babies in a 50-year medical career.

It sounds trite to say that most everybody in Amite County and adjoining counties knew Hank Lewis, but he was, indeed, that well known. He was medical director of the large regional hospital in McComb and also monitored and cared daily for dozens of patients in area nursing homes.

Few loved Southwest Mississippi Community College in Summit, where he began his education, more than Dr. Lewis. I recall discussing with him a project to build a monument and museum at the college for his fellow Amite Countian and Southwest grad, the storyteller Jerry Clower. “Jerry deserves it. Let’s get that done,” I quoted Hank. It remains a sound idea.

Dr. Lewis was on duty in the emergency room of the McComb hospital the night of Oct. 20, 1977 when the airplane carrying the rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd crashed near Gillsburg in Amite County. Crash survivors returning years later to the memorial site always asked about and praised Hank Lewis.

This was a physician who for most of his career provided that most basic of medical care: the sacred house call. He leaves his wife, Betty, and six children.

My Uncle Bowdre McComb, 99, the brother of my late mother, Jonnie M. Gordon, died Aug. 27. Most families have someone who’s the “glue” holding them together. Bowdre, nearing his 100th birthday, was ours.

He served with U.S. Navy amphibious forces in World War II, helping to break Japanese codes.

Many decades later, Bowdre, a lifelong salesman, became a volunteer at the WWII Museum in New Orleans. Thanks to McComb’s Christopher Hart for his sterling “Taps” at the gravesite. Bowdre leaves a sister, a brother and many nieces and nephews.

 Bowdre’s grandfather had an Ole Miss professor by that name. The grandfather asked his son, Russ McDowell, to name the next male born “Bowdre.” Thus, Bowdre got his name from Ole Miss —- and his degree from Mississippi State.

— Mac Gordon is a native of McComb. He is a retired newspaperman. He can be reached at macmarygordon@gmail.com.