Robert Fowler
Class of 1950

Bob Fowler’s life after graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a Fine Arts degree reads like the voyages of Odysseus. Fowler taught at the university level, including a stint at TCU; he worked as an illustrator for a proposed aircraft as well as with NASA during the early part of the space program; and he has worked on art projects in New York, Washington, D.C., and Europe.

St. Thomas archivist Betty Fischer, who received a warm applause as the first female presenter at a Hall of Honor induction, began her introduction of Fowler by quoting from Spanish poet Antonio Machado whose metaphor about life concerns the traveler who must make his own path: “Traveler, there are no paths/You make the paths by walking.”

Fischer and Fowler both acknowledged that Fowler’s early works of art, using what many critics disdained—metal, were not well received by many. But Fowler kept moving forward and later received the accolades he deserved.
In 1966, Fowler became the first American to win first place in the International Exhibit of Sacred Art in Trieste, Italy. He has several pieces of art displayed in the Houston area, including the Mr. Neato Gorilla at the Houston Zoo.

Fischer pointed out that Fowler often gave credit to the Basilian Fathers and St. Thomas High School for giving him the means to be successful in life.

“The logical framework of my beliefs come from STH teachers,” Fowler said in a quotation from the STH Centennial book. “A good education can only be measured in the resulting subtleties that shift lives, never mind the grades and IQs. St. Thomas High School gave the Class of 1950 a pragmatic male edge that couldn’t be measured by test scores.”

In his acceptance talk, Fowler stressed the importance of being “taught how to think in a pragmatic way.” It was this “pragmatic” side that allowed him to be a part of important engineering projects in the aerospace industry.

He also talked about the differences he had with many art critics early in his career.

“Art should be seen as mental images to make you think,” said Fowler, who admitted that many of the images he created especially in light of the society in which he lived made many people, and many critics, uncomfortable.

“Bob’s use of the gifts God has given him as an artist is a gift to us, not to mention to the world, with his artistic creations—each piece being unique in shape, color and form—having the capacity to move our spirits beyond ourselves to a realm where all life can be seen as a gift,” Fischer said.

Fowler continues to work long days making art to make people think. He currently lives, and works, in the Texas Hill Country in Wimberly with his wife Diane. Their son, Robert C. Fowler, graduated from St. Thomas in 1983.

Robert Fowler was inducted into the St. Thomas Hall of Honor May 4, 2006.