Marine Corps Base Quantico -- The building that houses the Marine Corps Marathon staff has been on its spot on E. Russell Road for almost 10 years, but it’s been nameless all that time. That changed on Monday, Sept. 14, when it was officially dedicated “Fowler Hall,” at a ceremony held outside the building at 11 a.m.
The man behind the name is Col. James L. Fowler, a retired Marine who was a veteran of both the Korean and Vietnam Wars and two-time recipient of the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in those wars. “The People’s Marathon” was his idea. (Fowler’s Purple Hearts were used by the United States Postal Service to design the Purple Heart commemorative stamp.)
Col. Fowler died Jan. 20, 2015, and was buried at Fort Meyer on Tuesday. The funeral was held at the Old Post Chapel, where Fowler married his wife, Betsy, 54 years ago.
“When he passed away, it seemed appropriate to put his name on the building,” said Maj. Rick Nealis, the Marine Corps Marathon race director.
Fowler was working at HQMC in the Division of the Reserve in the 1970s when several factors led to his belief that the Marine Corps needed to be in the marathon business.
“Marathoning was just taking on as a sport in the 1970s,” Nealis explained. “Frank Shorter had won the gold medal for the marathon at the 1972 Olympics.”
The track and field relays Quantico had hosted were cancelled when the draft ended. The football team at Quantico was also disbanded, so there were no longer major sporting events on base.
“Anger about the Vietnam War led the popularity of the military services to decline in the eyes of many,” Nealis said.
In addition, the bicentennials of both the Marine Corps and the United States were on the horizon.
“Fowler felt that a marathon would showcase the Corps’ organizational skills and its commitment to community goodwill and a healthy lifestyle,” Nealis said.
On October 17, 1975, Fowler penned a memo to his superior, Gen. Michael Ryan, outlining his idea. Gen. Ryan loved the idea and helped it receive approval from then-Commandant, Gen. Louis Wilson. Additional important support came from Gunnery Sgt. Alex Breckinridge, who had been a member of the 1960 Olympic Marathon Team.
The first Marine Corps Marathon, organized by the Marine Corps Reserve, was held a little over a year later, on Nov. 7, 1976.
“Col. Fowler was worried that no one would come, but 1,175 people registered,” Nealis said.
The entry fee for the first MCM was $2.
“Fowler put on the entire race for about $2,300. Now it costs $8 million. He knew how to be frugal more than I!” Nealis said.
Col. Fowler was the race director for two years, until planning requirements grew too large and coordination was turned over to active duty Marines in 1978. In 1982, coordination was taken over by a full-time Marine Corps Marathon staff, headquartered aboard MCB Quantico, where it remains today.
Col. Fowler ran the marathon himself in 1978, at the age of 47. It was a feat for a veteran who still carried bullet shavings in his leg from an AK-47 wound suffered in Vietnam. He finished the race with a time of 4:45:44.
“He didn’t beat Oprah, but he beat Al Gore by about one minute!” Nealis said.
Fowler stayed actively involved with the MCM, as a member of its Ad Hoc Publicity Committee, for the its entire 39 years until his death.
“He came up with the vision and he is the right choice and the right person to be honored for his career,” Nealis said.
Mrs. Betsy Fowler, Fowler’s wife of 54 years, was a guest of honor at the ceremony, which was attended by 75 people.
“I’m very excited and very proud to be here,” she said. “I don’t think Jim would have expected this at all, but he would have loved it.”
The ceremony’s invocation was given by Jonathan Bryan, USMC retired, a minister and friend of the Fowler family for 60 years. Welcome remarks were delivered by Chas Henry, another close friend of the Fowler’s and a longtime member of the MCM Ad Hoc Publicity Committee.
“Everyone around the world, especially in the running community, knows what the Marine Corps Marathon is now,” Henry said. “It’s a world-class event. Fowler was a man ahead of his time.”
Betsy Fowler spoke of her husband’s spirit of adventure and the fact that he never turned down a challenge.
Nealis concluded the ceremony with his remarks, praising Fowler’s leadership and vision and thanking him for the mentorship and education his predecessor gifted him.
“I know the Marine sentries who guard the streets of heaven are now being led and guided by James Fowler,” he said. “From now on, I’ll be honored to say I work at Fowler Hall.”
— Writer: auphausconner@quanticosentryonline.com