Roll Call Tribute

[Photo sent by Former Student. Source unknown.]


(Published in) The Williamson County Sun

JAMES BROOKS FOWLER died July 7. Service 11:30 a.m., Saturday, July 21, The Worship Place,
Sun City.
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Published in Houston Chronicle on July 18, 2012

James Brooks Fowler
James Brooks Fowler, 81, passed away peacefully at home on July 7. A celebration of life will be held at 11:30 am, July 21, at The Worship Place in Sun City with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Hospice Austin or the Class of '52 A & M Scholarship Fund.
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Sent by Classmate. Source unknown.

James "Jim" Fowler '52

James Brooks Fowler passed away peacefully
at home in Sun City on July 7, 2012.



Born on October 17, 1930 just down
the road in Temple, TX to parents, William Brooks Fowler and Elsie Grubbs
Fowler, he is preceded in death by his parents and his three sisters, Doris Bennett,
Mary Schaefer, and Jean Howard and Betty Willetts Fowler.

Jim is survived by his wife Pat
Holland, daughter Diane and husband Chris Freeland and their family,
Christopher, Taylor, Aaron, and Ayden, of McAllen, son Val and wife Liz and
their family Amy, June and Patrick Ballard and Christopher Townsend, of
Houston, step son Keith Holland, Georgetown, “adopted” son, Michael Waring of
South Africa, “sister” Roxanne Parsons, Sister-in-law, Dolores & Bill
Latham of Katy as well as many wonderful nieces and nephews.



Jim became a proud Aggie in 1948 when
he entered this esteemed institution on a football scholarship. It is hard to say whether his family was more
proud of his engineering degree, three seasons as a Letterman and named All
American or his commission as a 2nd Lt. in the Air Force. After graduation in 1952, he married Betty
Willitts and they headed off to Air Force Bases in Georgia, Washington D.C. and
then Germany, where Jim was privileged to continue playing football on the
armed forces team.



Jim and Betty returned from Germany
in 1954 with a new daughter and began his life in Houston working for several
companies in the oil and gas service industry.
An entrepreneur at heart and encouraged by his close business
relationship with Alcorn Combustion and his mentor and friend, Peter von
Wiesenthal, Jim formed his first solo company, J.B. Fowler, Co. which grew into
Fowler Associates, Inc. His dream was
fulfilled when his son Val joined the company in 1979. When the oil industry took a financial
beating in the early ‘80’s, so did the company and Jim once again found himself
in the employ of others. However, his
entrepreneurial spirit never failed and U.S. Thermal Technology was formed in
partnership with his son, Val.



Jim retired in 2009 to fully enjoy
his Sun City life with Pat, his wife of 25 years. He enjoyed many hours with friends playing
golf and tennis and drinking coffee at the City Market settling all the
important world problems. He was
surrounded by the Lantana Drive neighbors, the best friends any guy could
imagine. Jim’s favorite time of day was
around 5 o’clock – or as he would say “wine time”.



Throughout his life, Jim made many happy
memories at his second home on Lake Conroe, where his kids (both Aggies) would
pop over on weekends for water skiing and cookouts. Jim also loved traveling, whether to his
interesting property ventures in Mexico and Colorado or his many cruises and
fun filled adventures with Pat to explore places around the world.



Jim’s passion for sports led him to
become a season ticket holder for the Colt 45’s (Houston Astros), the Houston
Oilers, the Houston Rockets, and of course anything remotely related to A&M
football – or just anything that was A&M.
He coached little league and with family in tow spent many hours
coaching and scouting games.



He maintained lifelong friendships
from his Aggie days and always looked forward to spending the weekend with his
beloved Class of ’52 buddies at the mini-reunions, which were held yearly. His group would now say, “Jim Fowler has
graduated” and will be singing the Aggie War Hymn when he rejoins those who
have gone before. He will be remembered
as a loving husband, father and friend eager to share anything he had with
others.



The family extends heartfelt thanks
to Dr. Darren Kocs and staff of Texas Oncology in Round Rock and the dedicated
and caring staff of Hospice Austin as well as the doctors and staff at M.D.
Anderson.



A celebration of life will be held
at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 21 at the Worship Place, 811 Sun City Blvd.
with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, Jim would ask that you
consider a donation to Hospice Austin or the Class of ‘52 A & M Scholarship
Fund.