William Owen Cowger (January 1, 1922 – October 2, 1971), a Republican, served as mayor of Louisville, Kentucky, and as a member of the United States House of Representatives.

After other graduate work and military service in World War II, he returned to Louisville and became president of a mortgage loan company.

In 1961, Cowger was elected mayor of Louisville for a single four-year term.

[1] Cowger unsuccessfully sought re-election in 1970 while dealing with a fatal illness, but was defeated by Democrat Romano Mazzoli.

After his defeat, Cowger returned to his mortgage business in Louisville and died less than one year after.