A Heroic Legacy

During the early 1970s, Chris Cowdrey was a fantastic teammate and a motivating captain as part of the Maryland football team, but his true legacy extends much further. 

After graduating from the University of Maryland, Cowdrey dedicated his life to the Marine Corps and rose through the ranks, eventually becoming a General and completing a military career spanning approximately 40 years. Upon retirement from the Marine Corps, Cowdrey moved to Norfolk, VA with his wife Donna. He was eventually diagnosed with glioblastoma, a rare form of brain cancer. Cowdrey fought bravely for 5.5 years, until he ultimately passed away in June of 2020. 

Now, as the Terps are set to host Michigan for Military Appreciation Day, Cowdrey is being honored for all he did for the country and his family will be recognized during the game’s honorary captain recognition.

Cowdrey, born November 1, 1949, attended Arundel High School before attending the U.S. Naval Academy Preparatory School (NAPS) in 1968. Both his father and grandfather served at least 30 years each in the United States Navy, so Cowdrey was always drawn to the military and the hard work that came with it. 

After that year, he received a football scholarship to Maryland, where he worked his way to being a defensive captain in 1972. He also lettered in lacrosse. 

While at Maryland, Cowdrey met the love of his life, Donna, a baton twirler for the football team. When Chris was a sophomore and Donna a freshman, they met at a party and instantly connected. Soon after, Chris stopped by her sorority house and drove her and some sorority sisters to a Maryland basketball game, where he asked Donna to sit next to him. 

Their first official date came at a party to celebrate the end of football season, and that was all it took for Donna to fall in love.

“We had a wonderful time,” she said. “I think I could’ve married him the next day. I just knew he was the one.”

Shortly after Donna graduated from Maryland, the two got married and began a beautiful life together.

“It was pretty much love at first sight for us,” Donna said. “And then from there we had a relationship that lasted 53 years and a marriage that lasted 50. We had an absolutely wonderful life together.”

After graduating and leaving College Park, Cowdrey attended Marine Corps Officer Candidate School—the place where he first met John Sattler, a man who also became a Marine Corps General and who was very close with General Cowdrey. Sattler knew of Cowdrey already because of his superb reputation as a great young officer and leader. However, upon first meeting him, he was even more impressed.

“I always had a tremendous appreciation for how hard he worked,” Sattler said. “He took care of himself then so he could eventually take care of his Marines. He knew how to lead from the front and not be fatigued under some really tough conditions.”

Upon completion in 1974, Cowdrey was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps—and he and Donna were off to California. However, Donna cried most of the drive there after leaving her family in DC. 

For the next three decades, Cowdrey, whose brother Dan was also a United States Marine Corps infantry officer, continued to climb the ranks in the Marines, serving in roles including commanding officer, colonel, brigadier general, and commanding general of combined joint/task force consequence management. 

As Sattler explains, Cowdrey was an infantry officer the entire time. He was hand-picked out of hundreds to command one of only 24 infantry battalions. Then, he was promoted by a board to Regimental Commander as a Colonel, serving one of only eight regiments and commanding the largest one. Finally, in what Sattler describes as the highlight of his career, Cowdrey was selected to Command the 3rd Marine Division in Okinawa, Japan, one of only three Marine divisions, where he led around 12,000 individuals. 

"We were just going to stay two years and do his duty, but it ended up being 33,” Donna said. “We started having our children, and he kept getting promoted, so the decision became easy. We’re so glad we stayed as long as he did. Chris was so dedicated to God, to his family and to the Marine Corps. It was a wonderful life.”

For those who knew him best, Cowdrey’s ascension through the ranks was a no-brainer, thanks to his exceptional leadership qualities. 

“He was so inclusive as a leader,” Sattler said. “He never acted like he had all the answers, even if he did. And he was always so selfless, whatever his men and women we’re going through, he went through it too. And then of course he was very intellectual as a leader.”

“He never yelled, screamed or used profanity; it was just everyone working towards the same goal,” he added. “But he did it in a way where you knew he was in charge. That inclusiveness and persuasiveness made him a great leader. I think a lot of what he applied at the University of Maryland as a defensive captain helped him and he transitioned a lot of that right into the Marine Corps.”

Cowdrey served in countless assignments, including Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. His assignments were located worldwide, including in Somalia, Lebanon, and the Middle East. He was also stationed in Beirut during the Beirut barracks bombing, where over 200 Marines tragically died. In his final assignment, General Cowdrey commanded the 3D Marine Division, where he led the tsunami relief efforts in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, in 2004. 

General Cowdrey retired from the U.S. Marine Corps in 2006 and settled in Norfolk at the age of 56 with his devoted wife, Donna. He continued his career as a Vice President of ITA International for eight years and retired fully in 2014. 

“I was very proud of him and very proud to be his wife and the mother of his children,” Donna said. “He was always my hero.”

Cowdrey passed away on June 29, 2020 after a brave 5.5 year battle with glioblastoma. He is survived by Donna, their three children, and seven grandchildren. Continuing the family military tradition, their sons joined the U.S. Navy and both their daughters married men in the military. 

For those who knew Cowdrey best, it was no surprise that Cowdrey chose to put his life on the line and become a Marine—just as it was no surprise that Cowdrey gave glioblastoma everything he had. 

“He never quit anything in his life,” Sattler said. “He never quit in the classroom, on the football field, or on the lacrosse field. He definitely never quit as a Marine no matter how tough the conditions were. That’s just in his DNA. And he fought the cancer longer and harder than pretty much anyone could.”

Most people diagnosed with glioblastoma are given a length of survival of 12 to 15 months from their doctors. Cowdrey lived for over five years after his diagnosis. 

“He’s the strongest person I’ve ever known, and that’s in every way, physically, emotionally and spiritually,” Donna said. “He was so strong during this whole time. He never complained, he never said anything hurt, he never asked, ‘Why me?’; he just dealt with the diagnosis and was as strong as he could be.”

Donna recalls how, through the entire battle with cancer, Cowdrey refused to let it change him or his work ethic. He continued to work out every single day, running five miles (though he would say he “sauntered” more than ran) and then going to the local gym and doing 80 sit-ups and a full workout. The Cowdrey's neighbors called Chris the Mayor of the Gym. And fittingly, after he passed, the local fitness center was renamed “The Chris Cowdrey Fitness Center.” 

“Duke (Medical) told him he actually beat (the cancer), because no one makes it that far with this diagnosis,” Donna said. “And we had a really good five years. Those last six months were tough, but we had a great five years. Chris was amazing and so strong through it all, and we’re really grateful for those five years.”

And for Donna, the chance to honor her husband’s memory and legacy in front of the tens of thousands of people gathered in SECU Stadium, where the two used to stand on the field together, is a perfect way to celebrate him. 

“We are so grateful for all the efforts at Maryland and for everyone involved in making this happen,” Donna said. “I know Chris is watching over all of it and is so appreciative of it himself.”

“The fact that we’ll be honored at the place where we basically met, on the football field, makes it even sweeter.”