Tillie Kidd Fowler

FOWLER Tillie Kidd Fowler, 62, passed away on March 2, 2005, in Jacksonville. Tillie Fowler was born in Milledgeville, Georgia, on December 23, 1942. She was the eldest child of Culver and Katherine Kidd, both of whom preceded her in death. Following the example set by her parents, Tillie's life centered around her family, and her career was dedicated to helping others. She was a devoted daughter, sister, wife and mother. She was also an accomplished and respected public servant. Upon her graduation from Emory University in 1964, Tillie entered the Emory Law School. Tillie was one of only 5 women in a class of 106. It would be the first of many times in Tillie's life when her polite, but persistent, determination would have her walk through doors through which few women had passed at the time. After receiving her law degree, Tillie moved to Washington, DC and worked as a congressional aide to Representative Robert Stephens (D-GA) and later as Counsel in the White House Office of Cons umer Affairs under President Richard Nixon. In 1968, she married attorney L. Buck Fowler, whom she had met at Emory, and in 1971 they moved to Jacksonville. In Jacksonville, she served as President of the Junior League of Jacksonville, chaired the Florida Humanities Council and was active in a number of other charitable organizations. In 1985, Tillie was elected to the Jacksonville City Council. Tillie was elected as City Council President in 1989, becoming the first woman and first Republican to lead the City Council. She was elected to Congress in 1992 and served on the Armed Services and Transportation Committees. Upon her retirement from Congress, she was awarded the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service and the Navy's Distinguished Public Service Award. At the time of death Tillie was a partner with the law firm of Holland & Knight and also served as Chairman of the Defense Policy Advisory Board for the Secretary of Defense and was a member of the Chief of Naval Operations' Executive Panel. Tillie is survived by her husband of 37 years, L. Buck Fowler, her daughters Tillie Anne Fowler, Washington, DC, and Elizabeth Fowler, San Francisco, California; her in-laws Robert and Corey Fowler of Ponte Vedra Beach; her brother E. Culver “Rusty” Kidd of Milledgeville, GA; sister Kathy Kidd Walker of Macon, GA; sister Candy Kidd of Atlanta; and several nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held Friday, March 4, 2005, at 1:00pm at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Jacksonville. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Tillie K. Fowler NROTC Scholarship Fund at Jacksonville University, 2800 University Boulevard North, Jacksonville, FL, 32211-3394. Arrangements are by Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 4115 Hendricks Avenue. Please Sign the Guestbook @ Jacksonville.com