After retiring from 25 years in the United States Air Force in 1987 as Colonel and wanting to stay active, Robert Cowan (D.D.S.) accepted the position as the first Director of the Advanced Education in General Dentistry Program at UMKC School of Dentistry. Respected by patients and colleagues, Cowan was first and foremost a clinician. If you needed to locate him, you could be assured he was chairside with the residents, never leaving for the day until the last patient was seen. Cowan served in this position from 1987 until his retirement in September 1999. Upon his retirement, Cowan was acknowledged by his peers with an appointment as Associate Professor Emeritus. Cowan, 86, died in his home of Grand Rapids, Michigan on Sunday, March 6, 2022.