South Dallas History “The Economic Engine” Forest Avenue Hospital

Series One by Dr. J. Ester Davis

I have several faded files on Forest Avenue Hospital and have had them for years.  One of those files is marked ‘…the economy engine of South Dallas.’ Forest Avenue Hospital opened on ole Forest Avenue (nee MLK Blvd.)in South Dallas in 1964. The urgency of the rise to fame was immediate, highly anticipated, famously praised by black communities far and wide. There was no room for parades, celebrations or untimed speeches.  But it opened with three(3)black doctors, a Director of Pharmacy, an entrepreneur, all majors investors, a 65 bed hospital with waiting room, offices, a most in demand surgeon quarters and of course a pharmacy. It is remembered that tons of mail came in daily for employment.     

Mrs. French L. Cowans was the first African American woman in the State of Texas to practice pharmacy, so we will start this series with her.

Mrs. Cowans was born November 9, 1928 in Gladewater, Texas, but grew up in old North Central Dallas.  As a little girl she would walk to church on Sundays by herself to St. John’s Baptist Church. On her way to church she caught the attention of Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Mary Convent from St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church across the street from St. John’s.  They were so impressed with the little girl and her intellect, they asked her mother if she could attend St. Peters Academy and live in the convent with the other girls…tuition free.  Her Mother gave permission. French L. was raised in the convent.  She went to daily mass, communion and evening vespers every day.  She excelled in academics graduating at age 16 from high school with honors.  She attended XAVIER University School of Pharmacy in New Orleans. She succeeded  in her studies and completed the demanding 5-year pharmacy program in 3.5 years with honors.  She also found time to pledge Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and become President of the Pharmacy Club.  In 1948, she was crowned Miss Xavier’s Homecoming Queen.  After graduation French L faced a dilemma.  She was only 20 years old and too young to take the State Pharmacy Board exam.  The required age was 21.  She worked menial jobs for months until she could take the Louisiana Pharmacy Board which she passed.  Upon returning to Texas she faced the challenge of finding a pharmacy position.  In the early 1950’s this qualified young African American woman could not get a job as a pharmacist in Dallas.  She prayed every day as was her ritual.  French L. was able in the meantime to become a teacher of chemistry, biology and algebra at Dallas’ Booker T. Washington High School, where she met and married Edward L. Cowans.  After the birth of her two sons, her prayers were answered again when the pharmacy administrator at St. Paul Hospital hired Mrs. Cowans to run the pharmacy on the 3-11 shift for the 700-bed hospital.  Strict conditions were cited and expected. The conditions were that she would have to work alone, arrive 45 minutes after the dayshift personnel left so they would not know she was black.

One day a white pharmacist from the day shift made a medication error.  An irate surgeon went to the pharmacy that evening to confront the pharmacist.  Surprise! Surprise! He found Mrs. Cowans running the pharmacy and the secret was out. Mrs. Cowans continued to pray for a neighborhood pharmacy in North Dallas but went back to teaching biology at her alma mater, St. Peters Academy. To keep her skills polished she practiced at various pharmacy outlets in the DFW area.  And she continued to pray.

The ‘buzz’ for a black owned hospital in Dallas started in the early 60’s.  Essentially, black doctors could not practice in any white hospitals.  There was already a black college for black doctors in the Deep South and several black owned hospitals. But Dallas needed a black owned hospital.  The Frank Lott Family was one of the drum majors for the hospital.  There is not very much history on the Mason Brothers, except the family was from California and owned land. Entering the 60’s the groundwork moved rapidly for a black owned hospital with a black entrepreneur as the major investor and three(3)black doctors.

Esterdavis2000@gmail.com or call if you have some precious memories of Forest Avenue Hospital from 1960’s to its closing in 1980.