Fred Ross Gowans (July 4, 1936 - December 7, 2023) was an American professor and historian. Born in Wesleyville, Pennsylvania, Gowans served a 2 year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the age of 20 before attending BYU. He met his first wife, Lavona Connolly, at BYU, and they married on July 17, 1959, and graduated from BYU that same year. Gowans received a Master's degree in history, after which he taught classes at the Institute of Religion at Oregon State University from 1964 until 1968 when he entered a PhD program at BYU. After receiving his PhD in Western American History, Gowans taught at BYU until he retired at 65. Gowans was recognized as one of the pre-eminent scholars on fur trade history. Gowans remarried to Gloria Comstock Hill on June 22, 1979, to whom he was married when he passed.