State Rep. Brandon Phelps honors 33-year school board member Wilbur Fowler

Wilbur Fowler retired from the Eldorado Board of Education earlier this spring after having served the district for 33 years. Friday, State Rep. Brandon Phelps met Fowler and his family at Eldorado High School's cafeteria to honor him with House Resolution 472, recognizing Fowler's service as a piece of state history.

"Wilbur touched a lot of lives in the community and we need to pay him respect. I'm glad he's still here with us. Wilbur will be in Illinois history for many years to come," Phelps said.

Fowler began serving on school boards when the Hillcrest School was built in 1959, left that board and then served the Unit 4 school board from the 1980s.

"The main reason I kept running in Unit 4 was because of an excellent superintendent," Fowler said.

"(Gary Siebert) did such a good job watching the budget and keeping everything under control, it made me feel like I could be of some help to the school system as a member."

Fowler believed the school district benefitted from good teachers and other staff and was known to vote an emphatic no when the issue arose to release staff members.

"I voted no on a couple of releases of teachers because I felt like I just couldn't vote to release them when they were doing their jobs," Fowler said.

"There were a couple or three. It was just my opinion at the time I felt I couldn't vote against them."

It was tradition on the school board the meeting did not end until Fowler decided it was time.

"It was just kind of a thing I was in the habit of. They looked at me. I guess it been happening so long it got to be a habit. Everybody looked at me to make the motion to adjourn," Fowler said.

Fowler said of the greatest achievements on any board was seeing the completion of the new high school.

"I am so proud of this new school. I'm proud of the fact (Superintendent) Gary Siebert and the architect led us through this. Back when we built it we had $7 million from the state and everything worked," Fowler said.

Fowler said he decided to retire due to his health. He has macular degeneration that keeps him from driving at night and for the past several meetings he attended he had to arrange a ride.

"I felt the time had come for me to retire," Fowler said.

Siebert said in his 41 years as superintendent he has known a lot of board members, some of whom were serving with a genuine concern for the school district and some of whom served with a political agenda.

"Wilbur didn't vote for everything I recommended and I didn't expect him to every time. But Wilbur's interests were in the students and the taxpayers. All his years I never saw Wilbur make a political vote," Siebert said.

"It is a good board to work with now, but Wilbur's experience is invaluable."

Fowler's son, Dale Fowler, said his son, Ben, marvels at the number of buildings around town that bear the name Wilbur Fowler. One day they drove past a bus building.

"Ben said, 'I bet grandpa's name is not on that one,'" Dale Fowler said.

On closer examination, Ben's grandpa's name was on the building.

"Sure enough, there was a plaque and there his name was on the building," he said.

Phelps' resolution recognizes Fowler's achievements in:

• Retiring from the school board after 33 years;

• Serving 45 years as a precinct committeeman;

• Serving eight years on the county board;

• Serving five years with the Saline County Cancer Society;

• Being a 73 year member of the Eldorado First Baptist Church where he has served as deacon for 51 years;

• Serving 15 years as president of the Eldorado Rector Coal Association;

• Serving 25 years on the Rector Drainage Association;

• Serving 40 years on the Eldorado Lions Club;

• Serving 10 years as Saline County Public Administrator;
   
• Farming for 43 years;

• Owning the Eldorado Locker Company for 10 years;

• Working in real estate for 11 years;

• Being involved in Eldorado community theater for 15 year.
   
• DeNeal receives e-mail at bdeneal@yourclearwave.com.