Dowdle pictures rewarding lifetime of giving It has been said that it is better to give than to receive. However, Walter Dowdle knows that sometimes it’s possible to do both. A native of Grenada, Dowdle graduated from Mississippi State University in 1967 with a degree in petroleum engineering. He began his career as a reservoir engineer and well log analyst with Chevron Oil and continued his education to earn a master’s degree from Stanford University in 1970. After six years with Chevron, Dowdle joined Intercomp Resource Development Engineering of Houston, Texas, where he assumed the role of vice president. Throughout his career, Dowdle continued to serve in various leadership positions within the oil and gas industry. In 1991, Dowdle made the ultimate decision to put his experience to work and established his own independent consulting firm, Dowdle & Associates.
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FOUNDATIONS | Fall 2019
Despite living and running a business nearly 600 miles away in Katy, Texas, Dowdle has always felt close to his roots at Mississippi State. When the petroleum engineering degree was re-established at MSU in 2015, Dowdle was eager to show his support for the program, but wasn’t sure how he could actively contribute. When a few of his former classmates and fellow Bulldog engineers suggested he join the program’s advisory board, he jumped at the opportunity. “I’ve always tried to stay close to MSU and have maintained many connections over the years,” said Dowdle, who enjoys returning to campus and growing his involvement with students, faculty, and fellow alumni. “It’s an honor to be able to be a part of the petroleum engineering advisory board and to be back at Mississippi State.” As a Legion of Honor inductee in the Society of
