Consumers IGA Owner Honored for Community Service
Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) has named Charles Fowler, owner of Stillwater, Okla.-based Consumers IGA, the recipient of the Lou Fox Community Service Award, in recognition of his community service and involvement. The award was presented at AWG's annual shareholders meeting on March 24.
Fowler has coached and supported local football, basketball and baseball teams for more than 20 years. He supports Stillwater Public Schools with fundraisers, donates money and food, and has been a frequent guest speaker at its business classes. A huge supporter of Oklahoma State University, he regularly provides shopping carts to help OSU students move into the dorms, and was recently honored at the OSU Homecoming Parade.
Fowler served as the local school board president and sponsored the annual Taste of Home Cooking School in conjunction with Oklahoma State University and the Stillwater News Press. He supports the Oklahoma 4-H Food Show, the Stillwater Public Library Summer Reading program, the Junior Service League, the Lion’s Club, the Stillwater Medical Center, Random Acts of Kindness and the Stillwater Youth Shelter.
As a member of St. Francis Church, Fowler has served on various committees and made donations to the preschool and youth groups.
For 50 years, and until her passing, Fowler’s wife, JoAnn, joined him in supporting all of these endeavors. The two were given the Pioneer Award by the local high school for their support of the Stillwater Pioneers. The City of Stillwater also honored them for 40 years of community support by their induction into the Stillwater Hall of Fame. According to the citizens of Stillwater, Fowler has been “more than a businessman, he has been a community asset and treasure, someone the community could always count on to be there for them.”
Lou Fox was president of AWG from 1955 through 1983. Throughout his life, he was highly regarded as a philanthropist and civic supporter. The Lou Fox Community Service Award is given in his honor.