As philanthropists and friends of Kennesaw State University, the family of Robert D. Fowler, chose to pay tribute to him by establishing the Robert D. Fowler Distinguished Chair in Communication at KSU. The family's generous gift and chair honoring the late Mr. Fowler were fittingly announced on the 70th anniversary of his birth: September 1, 2000.

Robert Dobbs Fowler, a Marietta native, savvy entrepreneur and quiet philanthropist, holds a unique place in the history and heart of Kennesaw State University. In the early 1960s, when no one could have predicted the growth that was to be experienced in Georgia's Cobb County, Mr. Fowler chaired the committee that persuaded the state to open Kennesaw Junior College and selected the site on which KSU now stands. His vision in the world of business and publishing helped influence the decision to locate the institution at the pivotal junction where it still stands.

Mr. Fowler also left a lasting impact through his business acumen and integrity. A former editor of the Marietta Daily Journal, Mr. Fowler purchased the Lawrenceville News-Herald, converted it to the Gwinnett Daily News and led it to phenomenal circulation growth and profit. He eventually sold it to the New York Times Company. His journalism background and civic ties to the community will inspire students interested in becoming journalists to think deeply about the relationship between journalism and citizenship.