A man who has made it his mission to help others with a disease he is fighting will be honored Sunday, Oct. 7, during the fifth annual Spirit of Life Award Dinner hosted by the Parkinson’s Disease Association of San Diego at the Del Mar Marriott.

William S. Cowling II of La Jolla has given $850,000 to the Parkinson’s Disease Association of San Diego, for resources and research.

“His Parkinson’s is what motivated him to make his donation,” said Debbie Jackson, special events manager of the Parkinson’s Disease Association of San Diego. “He is doing this to help others who have the disease. That is what this fellow is all about. He is here to help others.”

A portion of Cowling’s donation founded the William S. Cowling II Parkinson’s Resource Center, where Dr. Shirley Otis, the clinical director of brain research and treatment, uses cutting-edge technology in her fight against brain diseases. The center utilizes a promising new machine “” more sensitive even than an MRI when looking at images of a patient’s brain ” for her research into the diagnosis and treatment of diseases like Parkinson’s.

The MEG, or magnetic encephalography machine allows doctors to see highly sensitive areas inside the brains of patients suffering with brain diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. Although Otis had the machine when Cowling donated the money, the funds were instrumental in helping the center to obtain more doctors and staff able to understand how to work the machine and interpret the results, Otis said.

Cowling decided how he wanted his donation to be used, and he became involved in the research. He made sure the money wasn’t wasted, Otis said.
His donation to the Parkinson’s Foundation is related to research that will help find some answers to Parkinson’s in the future. Cowling helped to set up the whole Center of Excellence and to support persons who can do the research. His monies are supporting a new study using the MEG, Otis said.

The center has published a study on its findings related to the MEG machine.

“There seems to be a tie between sleep disorders and restless leg disorders and Parkinson’s. With [Cowling’s] generous support … he and his wife, we are now supporting people, and are able to foster learning about the disease,” Otis said.

The executive committee of the board of directors on the Parkinson’s Disease Association of San Diego chose Cowling, chairman of Dixieline Lumber, to receive the award this year for many reasons, according to Jackson. Not only has he made an enormous impact with his donation to the Parkinson’s Disease Association but he has a real passion for fighting crime. He’s made many generous donations to the police department and the sheriff’s department and helped to raise $400,000 for Duffy Town, Jackson said.

“It’s been an enormous honor to put together a tribute for this man,” Jackson said. “I am completely in awe of what he has accomplished in his life.”

Cowling graduated from San Diego State University in 1951 with a degree in psychology, and served in the Korean conflict. He has been involved in many community activities. He was past president of the honorary deputy sheriff’s association, Jackson said.

“It seems fitting that a man who was always concerned about service and customer satisfaction during his many years at Dixieline would be a generous supporter of the programs and services needed by Parkinson’s families to maintain their quality of life,” said Ronald C. Hendrix, Ph.D., executive director of the Parkinson’s Disease Association of San Diego.

Television news anchor Carol LeBeau will host the evening’s ceremonies, and former Mayor Roger Hedgecock will oversee both the silent and live auctions. Many well-known jazz musicians will play throughout the evening, including Bob Magnusson and Peter Sprague.

Advance reservations are required. No seats will be sold at the door. For reservations, call (858) 273-6763 as soon as possible.