Hundreds pay respect to Cowdin on Monday By: Shawn Smith 810varsity shawn@810varsity TOPEKA—As the church at the Highland Park United Methodist began to fill it was standing room only as hundreds of people pay their final respects to Thomas Brett “Birdie” Cowdin of Topeka. As the services begin we was there to celebrate the life of Brett and he entered in fashion with his favorite baseball song “Centerfield” . We had times that we cried, we had times we laughed but we knew that Brett was looking down on us and smiling over us. Brett touched many life’s and coached many kids at various schools within the city like Highland Park, Topeka Hayden, Topeka West, Rossville and he ended his coaching career at Washburn Rural with Steve Buhler where he was on Buhler staff at Rossville for 3 years. While at Topeka West, Brett was a part of the 2002 Chargers football team that went to State Football Championship under Warren Seitz. Highlight of Brett career at Topeka West would have been in 2003 when his oldest son Tychicus and the Chargers on the 5A State Baseball Championships. The 2002 Chargers football team has be inducted in the Chargers hall of fame but the 2003 baseball has not been inducted to the hall of fame as of it. Brett made the difficult decision with his second son Tobias to transfer him to Silver Lake for his senior season for football. A lot of people say that why the 2003 Chargers baseball team isn’t in the hall of fame. Brett made the right decision for this son and family and Brett always stood by that decision. We heard great piano music from Makaila Cowdin “You Are My All In All” Chris Perry, Former Topeka West Head Football Coach spoke great words about his brother and friend. Brett always made time for his family. He loved his kids very much. He leaves behind his wife Marci and their children Tychicus, Tobias, Natalie, Maisie and Jaxson. “Brett showed me how to love my kids” former Topeka West Head Football Coach Chris Perry Longtime family friend State Senator Anthony Hensley spoke as well at the funeral. “I have always knew Brett since he was around 8” said State Senator Anthony Hensley. “His brothers was always proud of him and he was proud of his brothers” said Hensley As the family allowed open thoughts on Coach Cowdin: “Birdie was always birdie, he can make you laugh” said former Hayden High School Football Coach Thomas Stringer. “We went on the road for baseball game in 1998 and we get off the bus and we are in the cage hitting tennis balls and Coach Cowdin is jamming and dancing to his favorite jock jam cd and the other team like who are these clowns and coach always new how to get to down to business when he needed too” said former Hayden and current Topeka Golden Giants Coach John Tetuan. As days, weeks and months and years ago bye, we will always remember Monday November 18, 2013 the day we said our final goodbyes to our longtime friend, coach Thomas Brett “Birdie” Cowdin. We will honor Coach Cowdin prior to the kickoff Friday night between Rossville and Silver Lake on 810varsity One thing I need to do as I have done many time before in the pass as the Voice of the Golden Giants and the Rattlers Ladies and Gentlemen the Head Coach of Your Topeka Golden Giants and The Rossville Rattlers Thomas Brett Cowdin
Posted on: Tue, 19 Nov 2013 21:24:29 +0000
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