Euclid City Schools

 Dan Fowler was a rugged young man who manned right tackle on offense and defense for the football teams of Head Coach Chet Rojeck, a Sport Hall of Famer. He also wrestled as a heavyweight for Head Coach Roger Brown and threw the discus and shot put for Hall of Fame Coach Bob Ramlow. All in all, the 6'5" 245-pounder earned eight varsity letters (three each in football and wrestling and two in track and field) and made his mark in each sport before he moved on to continued success in college and professional football.

In his senior year in high school, Dan was the Tri-Captain of his football team while also earning honors such as making the First Team of the News-Herald and the Honorable Mention Team of the Lake Erie League. Since he did not play for championship high school teams, his outstanding gridiron skills did not attract the publicity that they deserved. That all changed, however, when he got to college.

Dan also captained his wrestling team as a senior, was named Outstanding Senior Wrestler, earned First Team All-LEL honors, took second place in the Sectional Tournament and fifth place in the District Tournament, and went undefeated in the LEL Conference Meet on his way to a 17-2 over-all season record. His wrestling record as a sophomore and a junior was 11-1 each year. Over three years he accumulated a 39-4 won-loss record.

Dan had a stellar football career after high school at the University of Kentucky where with his own talents and the lobbying of Coach Rojeck and Assistant Coach Ron Seymour he had won a full football scholarship. (During the 1970's and 1980's, Euclid was able to place other star performers at Kentucky, including Rollie Skur, Stan Zupancic, Dave Yeckley, and Mike Spencer.) Once at Kentucky, Dan's ability was immediately recognized, and he became a four-year letterman and starter at tackle, guard, and center.

In his senior season for the Wildcats of the rugged Southeastern Conference, Dan was named as a guard on the SEC First Team and as a First Team All-American on the National Strength and Conditioning Team. Notably, he also was named as an Honorable Mention All-American by the Sporting News.

In 1979 he was drafted in the 10th Round by the New York Giants of the National Football League, a team that he played for as an offensive guard and tackle in the 1979 and 1980 seasons. When he eventually left football, he moved on to a business career.

Dan has written a poignant message to his former coach Ron Seymour that sums up his feelings about his Hall of Fame selection: "I am very grateful to the Euclid School System, and to all the teachers and coaches who helped mold me as a young man. Their encouragement, support, and discipline helped me become a better person, student, and athlete. Participating in athletics at Euclid High School taught me to win and lose as a team and to live life the right way. I am just so grateful for God's blessings and for all the Euclid High School coaches, players, students, and parents that befriended me." He notes that his notification of being inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame "brought back so many good memories from my past and gave me that feeling of youth and invincibility once again."

Dan currently is the Senior Vice President of Sales for AOL/Time Warner in Dulles, VA., and resides in Leesburg, VA.

Inducted on October 2, 2008