Former St. Albert mayor and provincial court judge Richard Fowler died Sunday morning at the age of 80.
Former St. Albert mayor and provincial court judge Richard Fowler died Sunday morning at the age of 80.
A long-standing community leader, Fowler had been battling health challenges off and on since developing pneumonia last fall, the Edmonton Journal reported. He was admitted to hospital last Thursday and died early Sunday morning.
Fowler served as mayor twice – from 1965-68 and from 1980-89 – and MLA from 1989 to 1993. Between his stints as mayor he obtained a law degree at the University of Alberta and, after defeating Liberal Len Bracko to win the provincial riding for the Progressive Conservatives under Don Getty, he was appointed solicitor general.
He held that position until 1992 before moving to Municipal Affairs and Native Affairs. Under Ralph Klein he served as justice minister until losing his seat in the 1993 election. He was then appointed a provincial court judge.
Born April 12, 1932, Fowler called St. Albert home for more than 50 years.
Richard S. Fowler Junior High School and the track and field facility adjacent to the school were both named in his honour.
Current St. Albert mayor Nolan Crouse told the Journal that Fowler left a tradition of strong sustainable leadership and his death will be felt throughout the community.
"He was such a prominent community member for so many years. He has left such a strong contribution to our community, it's hard for everybody not to know him. People either know him or know of him," Crouse said Sunday.
"The entire community and really the province, in so many ways, knows him. This is a sad loss because he's been a leader at the ... municipal and provincial levels."
Crouse has ordered all flags to fly at half-staff on the day of Fowler's funeral service, which has yet to be announced.
