Dr. DAVID JACK ROWLAND, age 98, of Jasper, AL, passed away December 23, 2019, at his residence. Family will be receiving friends on Saturday, December 28, 2019, from 10 until 12 p.m., at Jasper First United Methodist Church, Kilgore-Green Funeral Home will be directing. Service will follow at 12 p.m., at Jasper First United Methodist Church, Burial at Oak Hill Cemetery. Reverend Tex Ergle will officiate. Dr. Rowland was born in Columbus, Ohio on June 17, 1921. He graduated from Lash High School in Zanesville, Ohio in 1938; from Ohio University with a Bachelor’s of Science in 1949; the University of Alabama with a Master of Arts in 1951; was awarded an L.L.D from Jacksonville State University and an Litt.D. from Athens State University. Dr. Rowland began working full time, at the age of 14, during the Great Depression, also while attending school full time. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, and was stationed in the American Theater, including pre-flight training at The University of Alabama. It was at the University, he met Mary Ellen Stinson from Birmingham, AL. They married on April 8, 1944 and were married for 63 years until her death in April 2007. After the War, he again worked full time, while attending Ohio University full time. After graduating from Ohio University, he began employment with the Jefferson County (Alabama) Board of Education. In 1956, he was named President of Walker College in Jasper, AL and served in that role until his retirement in 1988. He served as Chancellor from 1988 to 1995 and as Interim President and Vice President of The University of Alabama at Birmingham from 1995-1997. Upon his arrival at Walker College, the college was unaccredited, with 32 students, 4 teachers and 1 building. Three years later, the college became accredited, a campus was developed, and buildings were constructed. After 33 years of service, as the longest tenured college president in the U.S., Walker College had over 1,000 students, 14 buildings, and an endowment of over $5 million. Dr. Rowland was also well known for his love of America and for the U.S. Army. He enlisted as a private and rose to the rank of Colonel, retiring in 1977. He was Chairman of Map Department, 3rd Army Intelligence School, and served as a Platoon leader, Company Commander, Detachment Commander, G-2, and Chief of Staff in the Army. Dr. Rowland was an avid community supporter. He served on the Walker College Foundation, the Board of Directors of both the First National Bank of Jasper and the First Commercial Bank of Birmingham, the Jasper Industrial Development Board, the Alabama Surface Mining Commission, the Walker County Salvation Army, the Walker County Senior Resource Council, United Way, the AEA – Higher Education Division, the Alabama Association of Junior Colleges, the Jefferson Health Foundation, Rotary Club, Lions Club, the Walker Area Chamber of Commerce, the Black Warrior Council — Boy Scouts of America, and the Reserve Officers Association. He was a delegate to the CIOR Senior NATO Officers Convention for 2 terms in Europe. He was a delegate to the Alabama Silver Haired Legislature and to the U.S. Silver Haired Legislature. He served as District Lay Leader for the United Methodist Church for the Jasper District and on the Administrative Board of First United Methodist Church of Jasper. Dr. Rowland was member of the First United Methodist Church of Jasper for 63 years. He was a Mason, a member of the Military Officers Association of the U.S., a Life Member of the Retired Officers Association, and a member of the American Legion. Dr. Rowland was recognized for his leadership in both military and civilian life. His military awards include the WWII Victory Medal, Army Achievement Award, Good Conduct Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, American Theater Medal, and the Legion of Merit. His civilian awards include the Paul Harris Fellow from Rotary International; the Silver Beaver Award from the Boy Scouts of America; Young Man of the Year of Walker County; Alabama Senior Hall of Fame; Listed Who’s Who in America; and Listed Who’s Who in American Education. The City of Jasper declared June 30, 2015 as Dr. David Rowland Day in conjunction with the Main Street Celebration announcement. The City of Jasper, along with the Walker College Foundation, and Senator Greg Reed dedicated the Dr. David Jack Rowland Bridge over Town Creek on I22 in 2016. He was also named as a Top 50 Over 50 in Alabama. After retirement, Dr. Rowland spent his time as an amateur artist, writer, and wood carver. He also served as a volunteer at local charities, enjoyed tree and horse farming, and developing real estate. He developed subdivisions and commercial buildings, and assisted in the revitalization of downtown Jasper. He enjoyed participating in art shows, taking long walks observing wildflowers and wildlife, and also enjoyed travelling and experiencing the manners, customs and cultures of countries all over the world and had travelled most navigable waterways in the United States. Dr. Rowland was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ellen Stinson Rowland; son, Daniel J. Rowland; parents, David Henry and Ethel Belle Ryan Rowland.
Dr. Rowland is survived by his sons, Allen Rowland (Wanda) and Ryan Rowland (Jan); daughter, Sue Ellen Rowland Summers (Dan); grandchildren, Mary Beth (Jody) Barber, Ben Rowland (Lindsey), Drew Rowland (Ashley), Katie Summers Clifton (Austin), and Elizabeth Summers; and great grandchildren, Abbey Kellen Rowland, Jack Rowland, Harper Rowland, Lake Rowland, Grayson Barber, Alex Barber, and Scout Barber. Dr. Rowland was a man who loved his wife, his family, his church, his community, and his country. He focused his life to the service of God and others. Pallbearers will be Ben Rowland, Drew Rowland, Austin Clifton, Jody Barber, Grayson Barber and Alex Barber. Honorary pallbearers will be the Board of Trustees of the Walker College Foundation, the Board of the Salvation Army of Walker County, and the members of the Rotary Club of Jasper.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the David and Mary Ellen Rowland Scholarship at the Walker College Foundation, P.O. Box 2228, Jasper, AL 35502; First United Methodist Church of Jasper, 1800 3rd Ave, Jasper, AL 35501; the Salvation Army of Walker County at 207 20th Street E., Jasper, AL 35501; or the David Rowland/Summers Scholarship or the Mary Ellen Stinson Rowland/Summers Scholarship at the University of Alabama, NAA, P.O. Box 861928, Tuscaloosa, AL 35486.
