M.W. Charles B. Fowler, Jr. Biography 2006

Charles Bryan Fowler, Jr., better known as "Chuck", is a native of the Evergreen State of Washington. He was born and grew up in Yakima in the heart of the fruit country. As a young man, he began his involvement in the Masonic family by joining Yakima Chapter, Order of DeMolay, which he served as Master Councilor in 1953. An active and enthusiastic DeMolay, he was elected State Junior Councilor in 1955 and received the Degree of Chevalier in 1957. He attended the University of Washington in Seattle on a Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship which required him to participate in summer training cruises. He holds the distinction of having been elected to the office of State Master Councilor in 1956 while at sea on a battleship. In 1958, at the age of 21 years, he was raised a Master Mason, with the assistance of his father, in Mount Adams Lodge No. 227, F. & A. M. in Yakima. In 1960, he received the DeMolay Legion of Honor.

Graduating in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering, he was commissioned an Ensign in the U. S. Navy and assigned to duty on an Escort Destroyer. He spent a total of ten and a half years in the Navy, serving in two nuclear submarines, and attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He left the Navy and joined Combustion Engineering in 1970, working on various field assignments at commercial nuclear power generating stations, before relocating to the home office in Windsor, Connecticut. He retired from ABB Combustion Engineering after 23 years of service.

While residing in Nebraska, he regularly attended Washington Lodge in Blair, and was responsible for the institution in Blair of Centennial Chapter, Order of DeMolay, for which he received the DeMolay Zerubbabel Key. He served as Chapter Advisor for two years before moving to Richland, Washington, in 1973.

In Richland, he attended Richland Lodge frequently, and immediately became a member of the Advisory Council of Richland Chapter, Order of DeMolay. In 1974, he was appointed a District Deputy to the Executive Officer for DeMolay in Washington, responsible for Chapters in Richland, Pasco, Kennewick, and Walla Walla.

Upon moving to Windsor, Connecticut in 1975 for what he continues to hope will be the last move for a long while, the DeMolay Executive Officer appointed him Director of Membership. He served as an Area Governor from 1977 until 1985, and has also served as Director of Educational Assistance and Director of Ritual for Connecticut DeMolay. From 1981 to 1988, he was Chapter Advisor of Pinemeadow Chapter, Order of DeMolay, and in 1985 received the DeMolay Guild of the Leather Apron Award as Connecticut Advisor of the Year. In 1986 he was presented with the DeMolay Medal of Appreciation and with the DeMolay Cross of Honor. He served as Chairman of the Advisory Council of Pinemeadow Chapter from 1988 to 1992. He was also Secretary-Treasurer of the Charles M. Gerdenier Preceptory of the DeMolay Legion of Honor from 1981 to 1990. In 1991, Brother Fowler received the collar of an Honorary Member of the International Supreme Council of the Order of DeMolay, and in 2000, he was presented the William Campbell Medal for Distinguished DeMolay Service from Connecticut DeMolay.

In Windsor, Brother Fowler also soon began attending Washington Lodge No. 70, A.F. & A M. and transferred his membership from the state of Washington. He has since regained membership in his mother Lodge as a dual member. Appointed to the officer line of Washington Lodge in 1982, he advanced through every station and served as Worshipful Master in 1989, during which year he earned the Master's Achievement Award. He also served as a member of the Grand Lodge Masonic Youth Activities Committee from 1983 through 1986. In 1990, he was presented with the Grand Lodge Service to Youth Award. He is currently Secretary of Washington Lodge and in 1998, upon the recommendation of Most Worshipful Grand Master William F. Carpenter, he was appointed to the Grand Lodge Officer line. In April 2006, Brother Chuck was installed as Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Connecticut.

In 1981, Companion Chuck was exalted in Gideon Welles Chapter No. 50, Royal Arch Masons, and immediately became an officer. That chapter consolidated with two others to become Pythagoras-Welles Chapter No. 17 in 1985, and in 1986 he became the second High Priest of the new Chapter. Upon consolidation with Delta Chapter No. 51, the Chapter is now known as Pythagoras Chapter No. 17, which he currently serves as Treasurer and Trustee. He was Excellent Recorder of the Connecticut Convention of Anointed High Priests for several years, and served as Grand Custodian of the Sixth Capitular District for three years beginning in 1987. He served as Grand Secretary of the Grand Chapter of Connecticut from 1993 to 2002. In 1995 he was honored with the Ephraim Kirby Award for Distinguished Masonic Service, and in 1998 with the General Grand Chapter Bronze Medal Award.

Continuing his progress in the York Rite, he was received and greeted into Wolcott Council No. 1, Royal and Select Masters, where he served as Thrice Illustrious Master in 1990, and was Recorder for several years. He served as Grand Recorder of the Grand Council from 1993 to 2002, and is now Grand Recorder Emeritus. Also in 1993, he received the Knight of Ish Sodi award of the Grand Council. He was also Scribe-Treasurer of the Connecticut Council of Anointed Kings (Order of the Silver Trowel) from 1993 to 2005.

Knighted in Washington Commandery No. 1, Knights Templar in 1981, Sir Knight Fowler served as Commander in 1987 and is now serving as Recorder and Treasurer for both the Commandery and its Past Commanders Association. He served as Editor of the Connecticut Supplement of Knight Templar magazine in 1986 and 1987. In 1989, upon the recommendation of Right Eminent Grand Commander Russell D. Ramette, he was appointed to the Grand Commandery line through which he progressed until he was elected and installed in 1997 as Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Connecticut. He is a member of the Knight Crusaders of the Cross, Knight Preceptors, the Grand Master's Club of the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, and serves on the Board of the Connecticut Division of the Knights Templar Educational Foundation.

Brother Chuck is a Past Venerable Master of the Masonic Veteran Association of Connecticut, Past Pre-Eminent Governor of Connecticut York Rite College No. 17, Past Excellent Chief of Mohawk Council No. 28 of the Knight Masons of the U. S. A., Secretary of Nathan Hale Council No. 78 of the Allied Masonic Degrees, and Secretary of Connecticut College of Masonic Societas Rosicruciana In Civitatibus Foederatis. He is also a member of Hartford Chapter No. 56 of the National Sojourners and Connecticut Priory No. 28 of the Knights York Cross of Honour. He received the Order of the Purple Cross from the York Rite Sovereign College in 2002.

Brother Chuck joined the Scottish Rite in 1972 in Omaha, Nebraska. Upon the institution of Nathan Hale Consistory in 1985, he transferred his Scottish Rite membership from Omaha to the Valley of Hartford where he served as Most Wise Master of Cyrus Goodell Chapter of Rose Croix in 1998. In 1999, Illustrious Brother Fowler was coroneted a Sovereign Grand Inspector General, 33º, by the Supreme Council, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction.

For many years, Chuck was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the American Nuclear Society. While completing his service in the U. S. Naval Reserve, he worked with the young men and women of the Barque Eagle Division of the Naval Sea Cadet Corps, serving for two years as Commanding Officer.

Barbara Rae Jamieson of Centralia, Washington, became Mrs. Charles B. Fowler in 1960. Better known as "Muff", she graduated from Western Washington State University with a degree in Elementary Education. She was employed by the Windsor Board of Education and is active in the Windsor Woman's Club, having served as Co-President. The Fowlers have three children and seven grandchildren. Daughters Jill and Amy were members of Warehouse Point Assembly No. 12, International Order of Rainbow for Girls, and son Charles is a Past Master Councilor of Pinemeadow Chapter, Order of DeMolay. Chuck and Muff are active members of Grace Episcopal Church in Windsor.

CHARLES BRYAN FOWLER, JR.