John Richard "Dick" Fowler (February 17, 1927–March 23, 2007) was a local politician

Politician

A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...

 in Memphis

Memphis, Texas

Memphis is a city in Hall County, Texas, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the population was 2,479. It is the county seat of Hall County.Memphis is the birthplace of former U.S...

, Texas

Texas

Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...

 who was appointed by two different governors of Texas

Governor of Texas

The governor of Texas is the head of the executive branch of Texas's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Texas Legislature, and to convene the legislature...

 to regional or statewide agencies. He was a registered pharmacist

Pharmacist

Pharmacists are allied health professionals who practice in pharmacy, the field of health sciences focusing on safe and effective medication use...

.

Fowler was born in Sayre

Sayre, Oklahoma

Sayre is a city in and the county seat of Beckham County, in Western Oklahoma, the United States. It is half-way between Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Amarillo, Texas on Interstate 40 and the former U.S. Route 66. The population was 4,375 at the 2010 census....

 in Beckham County

Beckham County, Oklahoma

Beckham County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 19,799. Its county seat is Sayre.Founded upon statehood in 1907, Beckham County was named for J. C. W...

, Oklahoma

Oklahoma

Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...

, to John A. and Ruth Garrett Fowler. He graduated from high school

High school

High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....

 in Petersburg

Petersburg, Texas

Petersburg is a city in Hale County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,262 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Petersburg is located at ....

, Texas. Fowler was a veteran

Veteran

A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...

 of the United States Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

. He earned his Bachelor of Science

Bachelor of Science

A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...

 degree in pharmacy from the University of Texas at Austin

University of Texas at Austin

The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...

, and for most of his career, was a partner with his father and brother in the Fowler Drug Company in Memphis, which has since been sold.

In 1960, Governor Price Daniel, Sr.

Price Daniel

Marion Price Daniel, Sr. , was a Democratic U.S. Senator and the 38th Governor of the state of Texas. He was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson to be a member of the National Security Council, Director of the Office of Emergency Preparedness, and Assistant to the President for Federal-State...

, named Fowler to the board of commissioners of the Red River Authority of Texas, a state conservation agency based in Wichita Falls

Wichita Falls, Texas

Wichita Falls is a city in and the county seat of Wichita County, Texas, United States, United States. Wichita Falls is the principal city of the Wichita Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Archer, Clay and Wichita counties. According to the U.S. Census estimate of 2010,...

 a position he held until 1967. At that time Governor John B. Connally, Jr., named Fowler to the Texas State Board of Pharmacy, an independent regulatory agency, where he served until 1973. He was the board president from 1969 to 1970.

In 1977, Fowler was elected to the Memphis Independent School District

Memphis Independent School District

Memphis Independent School District is a public school district based in Memphis, Texas .Located in Hall County, the district also serves the towns of Estelline and Lakeview...

 trustees. He served until 1983, when he opted not to seek another term.

In 2003, he was elected to his first two-year term on the Memphis City Council. He was re-elected in 2005, and was running unopposed in 2007 at the time of his death.

Fowler was survived by his wife of fifty-seven years, Louise R. Fowler. The couple had three children and five grandchildren. He was an active member of the First Christian Church of Memphis, the Memphis Lions Club, and the Memphis Chamber of Commerce

Chamber of commerce

A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...

. He was a Mason for more than a half-century.