Justus A. B. Cowles

Columbia's Crew Coach 1897

Justus A. B. Cowles attended Columbia University from 1879-1883.  During his time at Columbia, Cowles was on the varsity football team (1881-1883) and rowed as part of the crew, eventually becoming stroke and captain.  He rowed on the crew with fellow Columbia crew coach, Dr. Walter B. Peet.  After graduation, Cowles went onto law school, not a surprise as his father was a New York State Supreme Court Judge and his brothers were also attorneys.  Cowles finished his degree and was admitted to the bar in 1885.  He joined the law practice founded by his brothers, Edward and Charles.

In 1897, Cowles was offered the position of crew coach at Columbia, when Peet had to take a step back from coaching while in medical school.  Cowles was nominated by the crew captain and was chosen because of his status as an alumnus of Columbia (Columbia only hired "graduate coaches" and not professionals at this time) as well as his availability to coach every day.   Cowles taught a different stroke than Peet so there was a steep learning curve for the crews that year.  After the 1897 season, Cowles returned to his law practice.

In 1911, Cowles in addition to practicing law, served as vice president of the Pejepscot Paper Manufacturing Company.  His brother, David, who was president of the paper company, passed away suddenly.  Cowles was then elected president and he left his law practice behind.  He continued in this position until his retirement in 1921.  During his time at the paper company, he also served as the village president of Rye for 3 1/2 years.

In his retirement, he wrote two books: An Old Blazing (1928) and Bolingbroke Lodge, Some Short Stories, and Some Serious Thoughts (1937).  He passed away a bachelor, on February 6, 1940 at the age of 78 after being ill for the two years prior.