Joe Dan Fowler

Joe Dan Fowler – A Brief Biography
By Gayle Haynes

          Joe Dan Fowler was County Clerk of Henderson County for 24 years. His tenure was the longest recorded in county history. His tall, lanky figure, relaxed posture and deliberate unhurried movements lent him an aura of laziness, but they belied a sharp wit and keen mind. He owned a suit and knew when to wear it, but he favored a casual manner. In his later years, a shock of graying hair gave him a distinguished appearance.
         Joe Dan was born into a large family on January 31, 1929 to Pinckney L and Bertha Jewel Fowler in Murchison, Texas. His father was a mail carrier for many years. Joe Dan had six older siblings and two younger sisters. One of the little girls died as a small child. His mother contracted Tuberculosis and spent several years in a hospital. His father died from a heart attack when Joe Dan was 10. He was raised by his aunt, Willie Mae Jones. The other younger sister was raised by another aunt. The family continued to be close even with the loss of both parents.
         He attended grammar school in Murchison and graduated from high school in Athens. After graduation, he joined the army with several of his close buddies. He came home on leave to marry Jean Brown in July of 1946. When he found it difficult to tear himself away from his new bride, he was listed as Absent With Out Leave. Upon returning to his unit, he was required to give an explanation to his commander.
         “Sir, when I got home, it came an unexpected storm and I couldn’t travel because of the snow and ice.” Joe Dan was always sincere in his conversation, but the commander was from Lufkin, and he was well aware of the weather conditions in Texas. Joe Dan scrubbed bathrooms and toilets for an extended period.
         After he was discharged, he resumed life with Jean in Murchison. He took some classes at Henderson County Junior College and went to work for Lone Star Gas. Jody was born in 1948, Donna, in 1951, Denise, in 1955, and D’Anna in 1965.
         He first found public service at the local level on the City Council of Murchison. He was on the Council when Murchison was incorporated and installed the water system. He was mayor when Murchison got sewer service.
         In 1968 he ran for County Clerk and won against the incumbent, Anna Bennett. Never one to make an enemy, he became a good and lasting friend of his former rival. He once said, “I didn’t think Jean would enjoy campaigning because she’s shy and quiet, but she turned out to be a go-getter.” Her gracious and engaging manner was a true asset on the campaign trail. During the campaign, Jean took a friend and six year old Denise out to knock on doors and give out cards. They found themselves in a rather seedy neighborhood, but assuming that they needed all the votes they could get, they pressed on. Suddenly, they saw the Lone Star Gas truck pull up and stop. Joe Dan grabbed Denise and put her in the car.
         “This isn’t very safe. You don’t need to be here,” he said. That was the end of campaigning for the day. After winning the office in 1968, Joe Dan never ran another campaign since he was never opposed.
         Joe Dan was dedicated to the job. He studied and researched real estate and election laws. He had a mind for detail and a heart for integrity. Gwen Moffeit worked in the office from 1969 until Joe Dan retired. She said that he recruited her to work in the office. He apparently appreciated the quality of her work and character when she attended school with his children. She was working at the credit department at Montgomery Ward in Tyler. Joe Dan found her superiors and asked them about her work and potential for advancement. He told them he wanted to offer her a job in the County Clerk’s office.
         They summoned her and told her of the request. Since they wanted to see her advance as far as she could, they supported her in making the move. Joe Dan found her at work and told her he had a job for her if she wanted it. It was a done deal that day, and she never regretted the decision.
         Joe Dan expected his staff to offer the best service possible to the citizens who came to the office. He showed abject respect to everyone and insisted his staff do the same.
         His dedication to the office did not compromise his sense of humor. He joined with Dwayne Garner and a couple of lawyers to keep things from getting too serious at the courthouse.
         Joe Dan was a frugal man with a family, so using money wisely was essential. He drove a compact car as did his friend Dwayne. The Meter Maid who gave parking tickets was a good victim for the evil genius of the two practical jokers. They stood inside the courthouse to watch when she made her rounds and found both their cars parked in one space so they could share the cost of the meter. For further escapades from the Courthouse Clowns, see the attached account by Dwayne Garner.
Sue Martin worked in the County Clerk’s office. After she began, Joe Dan came by her desk and said quietly, “I need to see you in my office, Sue.”
Sue followed him into the office, and he shut the door. What have I done? Sue thought frantically. Joe Dan sat down at his desk and looked at her seriously.
         “Are you enjoying this weather?” he asked kindly. It took a time or two for her to lose her fear when he asked her into his office for a conference.
         Joe Dan was a Deacon in the Baptist Church. He served for many years and was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church of Murchison.
         Joe Dan loved his family and his home. He valued each child and attended all the ball games and school functions. Some of the love for school came from his additional love for sports. He attended school ball games even when he didn’t have kids participating. As a family man, Joe Dan tried to be practical. He invented a remote control before the industry picked up on the idea. His devise consisted of a long pointed stick sharpened on the end and designed to fit the buttons on his TV.
The February 16, 1956 issue of the Athens Weekly Review contains a moving tribute by Joe Dan to the value of home, family and the ordinary blessings we usually take for granted. See attached copy of “A Day In The Life Of a Salaried Man.”
         He loved all nature and spent many happy hours tending, grooming, and pampering his flowers. He loved animals, too. His children grew up with cats, dogs, birds, rabbits and turtles. His daughter Denise remembered Smokey, a huge German shepherd. Smokey could not be contained in the yard. He jumped the fence and roamed the neighborhood putting himself at risk on the road. Joe Dan found a friend with a farm who would give Smokey a better quality of life. He put Smokey in his new green Buick for the trip to the new home. He had to stop at the office on the way through town, but, since he wouldn’t be gone long, he left Smokey in the car with the windows down. He returned to the car to find Smokey sitting in the driver’s seat with the arm rest in his mouth. In that brief ten minutes, Smokey had chewed or clawed everything in the car—seats, arm rests, and dashboard. It was completely destroyed. Nowadays they call it separation anxiety. Joe Dan dismissed it as a quirk.
         Joe Dan’s penchant for a joke couldn’t be contained, even when he was serious. He became enamored of a home remedy for sinus congestion and nasal stuffiness that used vinegar and honey. When explaining the benefits and method of use, he would glance upward thoughtfully and say with the practiced tone of a physician, “Well, we recommend twice a day to begin, but, after a week you might reduce the dose to once a day.” He always claimed to have done his surgical residency at Bethesda.
         After he retired from public office, he and Alan Boswell formed Boswell Garner Title Insurance where he worked for several years.
         Joe Dan loved to jog. Jean would take him out of town about five miles, and he would jog home. This was a daily routine for many years. His tombstone has a pair of jogging shoes engraved on it.
         In 2004 Joe Dan bid farewell to all his friends. Heaven may be benefiting from a practical joke or two since he jogged through the gate.