| Spright Dowell | |
| President of Auburn University | |
| Term Start: | 1920 |
| Term End: | 1927 |
| Predecessor: | Charles Coleman Thach |
| Successor: | Bradford Knapp |
| Birth Date: | 2 January 1878 |
| Birth Place: | Cary, North Carolina |
| Death Place: | Macon, Georgia |
Spright Dowell (January 2, 1878 – February 24, 1963) was the President of Alabama Polytechnic Institute, now known as Auburn University, from 1920 to 1927, and of Mercer University from 1928 to 1953.[1]
Spright Dowell was born in Cary, North Carolina on January 2, 1878.[2] In 1896, he graduated from Wake Forest College.[3] He attended the Southern University of Tennessee, and received an M.A. from Columbia University in 1911.[2] He taught and worked as a school principal in Alabama and North Carolina.[2] From 1913 to 1919, he worked for the Alabama Department of Education, as chief clerk, director of teacher training, and superintendent of education.[2]
From 1920 to 1927, he was the President of Alabama Polytechnic Institute, now known as Auburn University.[2] From 1928 to 1953, he was President of Mercer University.[2] In 1949 and 1950, he was President of the Georgia Baptist Convention.[2] He also served as secretary-treasurer of the Southern Baptist Education Commission, and became its Chairman in 1953.[2]