Obituary of Frank Eison Fowler

Frank E. Fowler 1946-2024 Frank Eison Fowler, of Lookout Mountain, Tenn., passed away peacefully at his home on the evening of Oct. 8, 2024. He was 78 years old. Born on June 2, 1946, to Richard Calvin Fowler and Mamie Craig Howell in Chattanooga, he was a lifelong resident of Lookout Mountain. Mr. Fowler is survived by two sons, Andy (Shelby) and Weston (Liza) and six grandchildren, Hope, Sarah, Lakelyn, Hayes, Hattie Andy (Hope and Sarah) and Weston (Lakelyn, Hayes, Hattie and Davis.) and two sisters, Margaret Knowlton and Mamie Dye. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of more than 50 years, Gay (nee’ Zimmerman,) as well as his brother Richard. After attending the Bright School and graduating from Baylor School in 1964, Mr. Fowler headed to Athens, Ga., to study in the Business School at The University of Georgia. Shortly after arriving on campus, he joined the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and began immersing himself in the rigorous academic and social life of a freshman at a large school with a decent SEC football program. Mr. Fowler quickly became an ardent Georgia Bulldog fan and serious student of the game of football. Throughout his life, he studied the art of recruiting and was always a great source of little-known recruits — Mr. Fowler was greatly appreciated by sports writers, fans, and coaches through out the region according to fraternity brother and long—time friend, Mr. Tom Beard of Atlanta. On another and more important note, Mr. Fowler eagerly pursued the academic and social life of the big school environment.  “He loved the great parties at the Phi Delta Theta house,but would always keep a close eye on maintaining his academic standards,” said Mr. Beard.” He was a force to be reckoned with. He created his own atmosphere wherever he went.” He was well-known around the campus and made friendships throughout the broad UGA and Athens social circles that remain strong to this day. Mr. Fowler always credited the people and life experiences at The University of Georgia for the tremendous successes throughout his life. Mr. Fowler was an international art dealer, specializing in the works of the Wyeth family, artists, and sculptors of the Brandywine School of Painting for more than 54 years. He was involved in every facet of their work, including but not limited to arranging international exhibitions, preparation of forewords, catalogs, catalogs raisonné, and the appraisals of works around the globe. He sold and negotiated more works by Mr. Andrew Wyeth than anyone else in the world and was considered the leading authority on Mr. Wyeth and his family. Additionally, Mr. Fowler specialized in the work of Mr. Wyeth’s father N.C., and Andrew’s son, Jamie. He was eminently qualified in all aspects of the Wyeth family, associated artists and their work. Mr. Fowler had close friends throughout the international fine- and pop-art communities, including the legendary Andy Warhol. He was an active real estate investor and developer on projects throughout the Southeast, focusing on Chattanooga according to friend and former Mayor of Chattanooga, Jon Kinsey. Mr. Fowler put together the necessary equity partnership together to purchase the iconic Chattanooga Choo Choo out of bankruptcy in 1989, saving the landmark hotel from closing its doors. He remained active in the redevelopment of the Choo Choo into a mixed-use entertainment district that has become the cornerstone property of the Southside of the Scenic City. Mr. Fowler remained a principal owner of the Hotel Chalet at the Choo Choo at the time of his passing. He was also an owner of the property that is now Council Fire at the time of its development.  Along with Jack Lupton, he arranged the necessary funding to jumpstart Council Fire’s development. He was a key partner in many other iconic Chattanooga buildings including the Chattanooga Times and River Place on the waterfront. The building was the first significant office development on the Southside of the waterfront municipality. Mr. Fowler was also a key participant in the development of River Pier Landing, Chattanooga’s first upscale condominium residences. Mr. Kinsey said that Mr. Fowler loved moving Chattanooga forward — willing to develop projects that had never been attempted previously. Long-time friend and business partner, Mr. Ben Probasco, said Mr. Fowler was unequaled in his loyalty and forthrightness. “There are few people that I would prefer to have at my side in a foxhole when the incoming fire started,” he said.“Frank always had the back of those near and dear to him —unequivocally.” In what little spare time he had, Mr. Fowler was known as a world-renowned angler who helped develop a fledging tarpon fishery in the South Carolina Low Country. He helped pioneer that fishery with long-time friend and fishing guide, Capt. Fuzzy Davis. Fowler was a complicated individual — equally at home with shrimp boat captains after a long day on the water at the local watering hole, or curating fine art exhibitions in some of the world’s most exclusive museums and galleries several time zones away. Tarpon — also known as “The Silver King,” first caught Mr. Fowlers’ attention thanks to a dog-eared first edition of The Book of Tarpon. Author A. Dimmock described catching the prehistoric species in the early 20th. Century around a pristine and yet- undiscovered Southwest Florida coastline. The large, acrobatic fish — with shimmering scales the size of a silver dollar — captured the angling world’s imagination and became Mr. Fowler’s life-long obsession.  He took a quote from The Old Man and the Sea author Ernest Hemingway to heart: “To write about life, you first have to live it.” Mr. Fowler became the first and only angler to release more than 1,000 tarpon in South Carolina — including a potential state record, estimated to weigh 235 pounds based on its length and girth.  Despite chasing that record for several decades, Mr. Fowler chose to release the fish. He then expanded his horizons to the Florida Keys and Key West, honing his skills with legendary tarpon guides like Islamorada’s Capt. Hal Chittum and Capt. RT Trosset in Key West. His lifetime total of tarpon will likely never be eclipsed. At last count, his tally was pushing north of a remarkable 5,000 fish caught and released over five decades.  While most anglers prefer targeting tarpon with a fly rod and chicken feathers, Mr. Fowler preferred heavier tackle, which allowed the fish to be subdued and released to fight another day. He was a fan of “down-and-dirty” fishing, leveraging his body mechanics to catch the fish as quickly as possible on heavier tackle to reduce mortality. Mr. Fowler was an avid conservationist, helping pioneer a ground-breaking satellite tagging telemetry and a DNA collection program that continues to help fishery scientists better understand the ethereal species — revealing their movement and habits from their northern range in the Chesapeake Bay, throughout their southern range in Central and South America. He was also a founding member and a trustee of the organization. Services honoring Mr. Fowler are scheduled for Mon., Oct.28th. at 2 p.m. at Forest Hills Cemetery. A reception and light repast will follow the ceremony at Lookout Mountain’s notorius Fairyland Club. In lieu of flowers, the family asked consideration of a charitable donation to an organization of the donor’s choice or to: Chattanooga’s Chambliss Children’s Center (315 Gillespie Rd, Chattanooga, Tenn. 37411; www.chamblisscenter.org ) and/or the Greenville County Museum of Art (420 College Street Greenville, SC 29601; www.gmca.org.) Arrangements by Wann Funeral and Cremation Center, at the foot of historic Lookout Mountain, St. Elmo. (423) 821-7551 To share thoughts, condolences or photos, please visit www.wannfuneralhome.com.