Today we’d like to introduce you to David Cowart
Hi David, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Well, my origin is Miami Florida, I was a groundskeeper/union president (afscme local 3346) at Flordia International University for a total of 14 years. I was also a freelance photographer for the Miami New Times street team and I was able to build my own independent music label Star Hitterz Ent in Miami Flordia as well. I never thought I would make such a big change but I was offered a position at Kennesaw State University here in Georgia and knew it was just the new start I needed.
I’ll never forget that day actually it was in the middle of the pandemic and a bunch of friends and I would do Zoom calls since we really couldn’t be outside, we would just talk life and bounce ideas off each other. I was asked a question about when I would be moving to Atlanta permanently and I said I’d be there in early February. Feb 6th was my last official day at Florida International University And Feb 8th is my late younger brother Marcus’ birthday, I started here at Kennesaw State University. My 2 live crew which is my oldest 2 Danasia and David 2nd came up later
When I first came here to Atlanta wasn’t taking any photography gigs mainly because I was still getting acclimated and about 6 months in I slowly started taking on small gigs like birthday parties, and small weddings and that was fine by me but then my kid’s got here and I started to take on bigger events, through that my Daughther Danasia was one of the main yearbook photographers at Wheeler High School until her graduation in May
Another passion of mine is football. I have done just about everything you can do at the youth football level except officiate a game until I got here in Atlanta. I was strolling through downtown Atlanta and I a billboard saying they needed more high school referees I applied not caring if they paid or not, I just wanted to see the sport I grew up on and live and upclose as I did as a groundskeeper at FIU
Sidenote: We can always use a few more good Men and Women out there so if you are interested head over to https://www.apfoa.com/ and click on the Contact Us section to start your journey to become a high school official today.
As of today most of my time is spent with my family, taking my oldest son Dave 2nd to football camps or taking pics at practice/games at North Clayton High Football team this season, also when I am not there, I’ll be on the sidelines or the field of other high school football game throughout the Atlanta/Metro area
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I wouldn’t say it’s been smooth but it hasn’t been rough, getting here is the easy part. I have had many hiccups along the way one of them is finding out my spine was compressed! I woke up on Labor Day of 2022 and I couldn’t feel the left side of my body, I immediately thought I was having a stroke I was scared as heck and after 2 MRIs performed on my brain and spine, it was discovered that I had a compressed spine and it needed to be operated on ASAP and me being stubborn I asked the doctor to give me 2 months so I can get my affairs in order and on my last day at work I had to drive myself to the hospital because my potassium was low due to all the muscle spasms I was having due to my spine being compressed
That was a little over a year ago and thank God for sitting my butt down because I know it could’ve been worse
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I love to capture moments that tell stories through pictures and as a cigar lover I design comfortable cigar gear, the backstory on how I started doing the pics is that I used to buy digital cameras, and as a first-time father, We love to take pics of all the special moments that our children embark on. soon later I decided to upgrade my cameras and it became profitable for me while still capturing those moments the great thing about it is my kids come out and help me !!!
The cigar apparel started from a pandemic Joke I shaved my head bald for the first time and I’d post on social media with teddy bear stickers over my face while smoking a cigar. later it was suggested by a friend I should create a personal logo with it and that’s how CigarGod was started. As of now, I have hats and tees online, with plans to expand to hoodies and other apparel in the future
Who else deserves credit in your story?
First and foremost GOD, my beautiful little family, Terika aka (Tee Tee), Terika Barr, Khris, Everyone at Atanta Peachstate officials association, Kennesaw state state plant ops, My grandma (Rosie Kinsey), Georgia Bazos, Terese Campbell, Madelin Gonzalez,And Sonya Anderson
Stay humble and keep GOD FIRST IN EVERYTHING YOU DO !!!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://starhitterzcigarz.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncle_daaave/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Starlifeimages
- Other: https://linktr.ee/dcowart9
Image Credits
David Cowart
