Richard Thomas Fowler, better known as Dick to his friends and family and Boss to his grandchildren, was exposed to high value standards during his youth, which motivated him to share the following with the son of a West Point classmate, “Remain truthful to the values you have developed growing up…never compromise your values, regardless of the ramifications. A job, either in the Army or in the private sector is just like the time spent at West Point…you stay and do your best because of the people! People and the team drive your success.” Dick’s life began on July 8, 1946 in Jackson, MI, as the son of Bette and Tom Fowler. He was the younger brother to Carol and older brother to Mary and Phil. He grew up as an Air Force dependent, moving around the United States, as well as around Italy, places that his father’s assignments took him as a pilot of high-performance aircraft. That was Dick’s ambition too—to become a jet pilot!
At Reicher Catholic High School in Waco, TX, Dick was the senior class president, a member of the National Honor Society as a junior and senior, and a member of Mu Alpha Theta, a National Math Club. His athletic versatility was clearly evident. Dick played football for three years and was named to the All-State Team, and he played basketball for four years, during which time he earned the nickname “Gunner.” Spring found him on the baseball diamond as the team’s first baseman for four years. He wrote for the school paper and played the lead male role (an Army officer) in the senior class play, “Dear Ruth.” These experiences prepared him for his dream of attending one of the military academies, receiving an Air Force commission, and following in his father’s footsteps.
Dick was awarded a Falcon Foundation Scholarship to attend the Air Force Academy’s Prep School at the Millard School in Bandon, OR. Following that experience, Dick fulfilled part of his dream when he received an appointment to West Point, joining the Long Gray Line in June of 1965. While at West Point, he played first base on the Army Baseball Team for three years. It was while playing intramural sports that Dick experienced a recurrence of a high school knee injury that ended his dream of becoming a pilot. That did not deter him from taking his time at West Point seriously while experiencing a way of life there that became his own. His convictions born at the Academy contributed significantly to the many successes he experienced throughout his life.
After graduation from West Point, Dick was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Adjutant General Corps. His first assignment took him and his new bride, Karen Gobrecht Fowler, to Frankfurt, Germany for service with the V Corps. Dick was chosen to be a general’s aide the year before he received orders for Vietnam, where he was first stationed in Chu Li and then in Da Nang. After serving with the Americal Division in Vietnam, he was stationed at Fort Benjamin Harrison, IN, where his first child, Kristen, was born.
While there, he started working at night to complete his MBA in accounting and finance at Indiana University (IU) before becoming a full-time student after fulfilling his five-year commitment to the military. While at IU, a younger student approached Dick to run as his vice president of the MBA class, saying he would never win as president unless Dick was his vice president. They were elected as a tandem, and little did Dick know that his younger running mate was John Chambers, former CEO of Cisco! After earning his MBA, Dick took a job as a banking officer with Continental Illinois National Bank and Trust in their Chicago office. It was there that his first son, Todd, was born. Soon after, the bank promoted Dick to Second Vice President of the regional office in Cleveland, OH. While living in Cleveland his second son, Adam, entered the family. A subsequent job change led to Dick becoming the assistant treasurer with Republic Steel Corporation until its acquisition by LTV Steel Corporation. At that point, Dick joined General Electric (GE) in Schenectady, NY as a project finance officer. After 12 years in that position, he was transferred to Dublin, Ireland, where he opened an office for GE in the IFC. He took a positon in GE Capital upon his return to the United States before retiring in 2001.
Dick Fowler was too young when he died, but he left a legacy for his immediate and extended family that all hold close to their hearts. He loved the life he lived, and he loved his family. His faith and the values and ethics to which he was exposed at West Point became an integral part of his own life fabric and his way of living it. He instilled those same values and ethics in his children, who have grown to exhibit the character, leadership, work ethic and integrity borne from the example set by their Dad. He had a spirit of adventure and was always willing to try new things. Dick and Karen loved to travel and explore new places and left their individual and collective marks at each of their “life stops” along the way. They always took time to share a little love!