Eddie "Pinky" Fowler was the beloved band director of Tyler Junior College's Apache Band from 1949 until his retirement in 1985. Under his leadership, the band became world famous for their performances all over the United States and abroad. Fowler was a mentor and role model to thousands of students over his 36 year career at TJC, where he also served in several administrative roles. He passed away in 2009 at the age of 86 and is remembered fondly for his passion for music and dedication to the students and college. The Apache Band Hall was dedicated in his honor in recognition of his tremendous impact and legacy at TJC.

1. Eddie “Pinky” Fowler
in loving memory
1922 - 2009

2. It was 1949 when Mildred
Stringer and Al Gilliam
went to Waco to convince
Eddie Fowler to come to
Tyler Junior College
to assist with
the Apache
Band & Belles.

3. And in just a few short
years—he had made them
world famous!

4. Eddie and LaValta …
Childhood Sweethearts

5. Whether you knew him as
Dr. Fowler , ‘Pinky’,
‘Boss’,‘Eddie’, or ‘Doc’,
you knew you had a friend,
a band director, a teacher,
a mentor…

6. a husband,
a father,
grandfathe
r

7. He was
proud of
his son
“little”
Eddie,
his family
and
friends.

8. Pinky and his passion…
music !

9. He was the fearless director
of the Apache Band!

10. WITH HIS
CONNECTION
S THE BAND &
BELLES
PEFORMED
FROM NEW
YORK TO LOS
ANGELES

11. Apache Band & Belles at …
the 1964 Sugar Bowl!

12. THEY PERFORMED AT…
THREE SUPER

13. His motto was
“Bloom Where You Are
Planted”

14. Always ready
to direct the
Apache Band
one more

15. his other music passion
…the sound of big band

16. He started Tyler’s Big
Band…

17. and he
organized
a band for
the Local
Sharon
Shrine
Temple

18. He loved coming back to TJC
for the Band Homecoming
Reunions

19. Dr. Fowler presented the
Distinguished Alumni
Award
to former band member Dr. Scott

20. Before the Rose Parade...he was so proud
—he could still get into his uniform!

21. Dr. Cheryl Rogers led us in
singing

22. He loved playing Ping Pong…
and former basket ball player
Tommy Sawyer (’54) could never
beat him!

23. … and “little” Eddie was
Always a part of the TJC
family.

24. always an Apache
With Maxene Robinson, Sports Circle of Honor Dinner
Kevin Fowler and Fred
Head
Fowler helped celebrate
Dallas Chapter Reception the 75 th
2004
Anniversary!

25. The leader of the band…

26. recognized in 2001
for his
Apache Spirit

27. LaValta was always there to support him . . .

28. And he always had a story or
joke !

29. and
… a smile

30. He loved life … his family,
TJC,
His friends and

31. A PROUD DAD

32. Happy 80th
Birthday Eddie!

33. DR. EDWIN E. FOWLER --- IN
GRATEFUL APPRECIATION
FOR HIS MANY YEARS OF
DEVOTED SERVICE --- WE
DO HEREBY DEDICATE OUR
ALUMNI HOMECOMING 2009
IN HIS HONOR AND
MEMORY.

35. OCTOBER 4, 1922 – FEBRUARY 28, 2009
TJC says Goodbye to
their Music Man…
Dr. Edwin E. Fowler

36. DR. EDWIN E. FOWLER
OCTOBER 4, 1922 - FEBRUARY 28, 2009
WHETHER YOU KNEW HIM AS DR. FOWLER, ‘PINKY’, ‘BOSS’, ‘DOC’, OR ‘EDDIE’ FOWLER, YOU
KNEW YOU HAD A FRIEND, A BAND DIRECTOR, A TEACHER, A MENTOR ... A MAN WHO LOVED LIFE,
HIS FAMILY, HIS MUSIC, TYLER JUNIOR COLLEGE AND ITS STUDENTS.
DR. FOWLER’S MOTTO WAS “BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED” AND HE DID JUST THAT. IN 1949,
HE CAME FROM WACO TO LEAD THE TJC APACHE BAND AND IN JUST A FEW SHORT YEARS, HE
MADE THEM WORLD-FAMOUS! WITH HIS CONNECTIONS, THE BAND AND BELLES PERFORMED AT
DALLAS COWBOY GAMES, AND AT THE SUGAR, COTTON AND GATOR BOWLS. THEY ALSO
PERFORMED IN NEW YORK CITY, CALIFORNIA, NEW ORLEANS, AND MEXICO CITY. HE ORGANIZED A
BAND FOR THE LOCAL SHARON SHRINE TEMPLE AND ESTABLISHED TYLER’S BIG BAND.
IN 2001, THE TJC ALUMNI ASSOCIATION HONORED HIM WITH THE APACHE SPIRIT AWARD FOR HIS
36 YEARS OF SERVICE TO TYLER JUNIOR COLLEGE. DURING THOSE YEARS HE SERVED AS BAND
DIRECTOR, DEAN OF MEN AND STUDENT AFFAIRS, HEAD OF ADMISSIONS, REGISTRAR, AND
RETIRED AS VICE-PRESIDENT IN 1985.
OVER THE YEARS HE INFLUENCED THOUSANDS OF LIVES AND PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN THE
COLLEGE’S RICH HISTORY. FOR MANY, WHEN THEY REMEMBER THEIR COLLEGE DAYS, ONE OF
THEIR FONDEST MEMORIES IS OF TJC’S MUSIC MAN, DR. EDWIN FOWLER.
THE ALUMNI, ADMINISTRATORS, FACULTY, STAFF, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND
FRIENDS OF DR. EDWIN E. FOWLER --- IN GRATEFUL APPRECIATION FOR HIS MANY YEARS OF
DEVOTED SERVICE --- DO HEREBY DEDICATE AND NAME THE APACHE BAND HALL IN HIS HONOR
AND MEMORY. OCTOBER 2009