Hugh
Lee Fowler graduated from Athens High School in 1942,
and received an A.B. in Journalism from the University
of Georgia, where he was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity.
His
service included flying 26 missions over Japan, as right
blister gunner. Crew 48's B-29 was named ''City of Athens,''
after his hometown of Athens, GA.
In
1952, he founded Fowler Products Company, Inc., which
became the world's largest remanufacturer of soft drink
bottling equipment. He served as its president and CEO
until 1973.
In
the 1970s and 1980s he was engaged in numerous business
and real estate ventures in Athens and elsewhere. He
was a founding director of Athens Bank and Trust Company,
and was responsible for the early restoration of the
Franklin House in downtown Athens, which he bought in
1977. Most recently he was a partner in the Market Place
of Athens and Columbia, SC
Hugh
Fowler was a charter member of the UGA President's Club
and the Cornerstone Society of Athens Regional Medical
Center, and a member of the Athens City Club.
Morgan P. ''Bucky'' Redwine, who grew up with Fowler
and had several business associations with him, said,
''Hugh was an adventurous person in business. He was
a risk-taker and a successful one.''
Redwine,
who flew a P-51 fighter during the war, recalled an
unscheduled visit with Fowler when Redwine was stationed
at Iwo Jima and Fowler was flying missions to Japan
from the Mariana Islands.
''As I remember one night Hugh's plane was running
low on fuel and landed at our base,'' Redwine said.
''I got to visit with him on his B-29. That was the
highlight of my stay, getting to see Hugh and swap
yarns about how dangerous it was and how many narrow
escapes we had.''
Hugh's
family consisted of his wife of 49 years Ann; his daughters,
Betty Alice, Frances Ruth, and Mary Ann; a son, Lee
M. Fowler of Columbia, S.C.; five grandchildren, Andrea
Lee, Hugh Lee, Jamie Whatley, John R, Stuart Magill.
Hugh
Lee Fowler passed away 11 Oct 2000; and was buried
13 Oct 2000 at Oconee Hill Cemetery, Athens, GA.
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