State

The Dog Thai Climbed the Tree Koli Fouler liatlii*! heard of tlic* fearful odds against succeeding uitli а шаца/лпо. In April. 1962. Robert Fowler, a native of Monroe. N. launched a new magazine called Civil War Times Illustrated at Harrisburg, Penna. It succeeded a tabloid newspaper he had fathered in 1957. Civil War Times . This had been moderately successful, so Fowler enlarged the publication, added striking illustrations, doubled the price to $10 a year, and struck pay dirt. Today Civil War Times Illustrated has a circulation ranging between П.- ООО and 19.000, reaching into every state and most foreign countries. Starting a nationally circulated magazine is about the most hazardous enterprise one can undertake, and it is estimated that 99 of 100 such ven¬ tures fail. But Bob Fowler was like the dog that climbed the tree. The dog hadn't heard that dogs couldn't climb trees, and Fowler hadn't heard of tile- fearful mortality rate of new publica¬ tions. Neither, apparently, had Ed¬ ward J. Stackpole. an author, and Fowler's publisher. But Fowler, who admitted he came to his new career with only a "good shallow knowledge of history." sensed the perennial fascination Americans have for information about the Civil War. lie was working on the Harris¬ burg (Pa.) Patriot-News as editorial writer, and saw the steady stream of pilgrims to Gettysburg — men and women returning to the spot where their grandfathers fought and where many of them died. He thought he had found a blank spot in the publica¬ tion field, and he was right. The first tabloid monthly was a moon-lighting job. but when it was changed over to Civil War Times Il¬ lustrated. Fowler chucked the security of a newspaper salary and devoted full time as editor of the new publication. If you believe lightning never strikes twice in the same spot, you can quit reading this. Because in April 1966, Fowler came out with another histori¬ cal magazine. American History Illus¬ trated. also published by Stackpole. THE STATE. AuQUST IS. 1967 «I/ KILL SIIAKPi: It already matches Civil War in size and popularity, and Fowler thinks it will soon exceed it in circulation. His¬ tory follows the formula Fowler found Robert Fo-lcr so successful with Civil War. which might be described as illuminating and vivifying episodes of our history. It cranked up in the face of competition from the successful American Heritage. a hard-cover magazine with terrific- snob appeal, mostly because of its lavish use of color and its high sub¬ scription rate. But Fow ler coolly placed a $10 sub¬ scription rate on History and by a shrewd selection of material — accurate but lively — he soon pul this publi¬ cation in the black, too. As in the case of Civil War. he did it partly by refusing to publish the dreary work of academic hacks, and by concentrat¬ ing on dramatic details of our past. He solicited the contributions of such writers as Bruce Cation and North Carolina’s own Glenn Tucker. Appar¬ ently. the one-time newspaper reporter has not lost his judgement as to what is readable, exciting, and gratifying, as well as what is significant. Whereas most historical publications are read as a matter of duty, these two show that events of yesterday can be made just as compelling reading as arc the events of today. Fowler, now 41, was born in Mon¬ roe where his father, the late J. W. Fowler, once was mayor. He is the descendant of Confederate veterans. The family moved to Charlotte, where young Robert attended public school. He served in the Navy in World War II. and met his wife (Beverly Utley, of Liberty) at Guilford College. Both transferred to UNC. and upon graduation. Bob worked on the Reids- ville Review, then on The Greensboro Daily Win, meantime getting his mas¬ ter's from Columbia. He worked two years on The St. Petersburg Times (Fla.) as city editor and then had three years on the Harrisburg (Pa.) paper as editorial writer. Bob Fowler's mother still lives in Charlotte, as do two brothers: Wil¬ liam M. Fowler, who owns an office supply company, and Res. James W. Fowler. Jr., for many years superin¬ tendent at Lake Junaluska. and now co-ordinator of several Methodist col¬ leges. Mrs. Fowler helped establish the magazines, and although she retired as executive secretary of the firm last year, she still does research for the publications. The couple have three children. Mrs. Fowler's father now is assistant superintendent of Guilford County's Schools. CAROLINA AERIAL MAPPING SERVICE AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY • Taxotion Mops • Topographic • Mosaics • Motion Pictures Rocky Mount. N. C. Phone 412-6227 Box 814 3