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ENLARGE
Don Fowler stands in front of the greenhouse he built at Gold Run School in Nevada City, while holding a portrait of the greenhouse given to him by a friend. Fowler retired this summer after three decades as a maintenance worker for the Nevada City School District.
Don Fowler may not be prowling the grounds of Gold Run Elementary School any longer, but he certainly hasn’t been forgotten.
Fowler, who spent 31 years in the Nevada City School District, retired before the beginning of this school year, but not before he left his mark on the school.
A sign dedicating a garden he helped create greets students and teachers at the school, and tall sunflowers, fruit and vegetable plants front a greenhouse he built that’s still used by students today.
“I just love the kids,” Fowler said on a recent tour of the greenhouse and gardens planted with marigolds, sunflowers, grapes, tomatoes, irises and rosemary. “They’re like family.”
The garden and a greenhouse Fowler worked weekends to build was finished in 1995, and is still being used today. A plaque commemorates the building of the greenhouse.
These are honors Fowler said he never expected.
“I wasn’t thinking in that direction,” Fowler said. “I just wanted a place for kids to grow their vegetables.”
Fowler retired this summer after working 13 years at Seven Hills Middle School and another 18 years at Gold Run Elementary, helping to open the school.
Gold Run was a magical place in those early days, Fowler said, as the school grew an identity.
“It was like Santa’s village,” Fowler said. “They’re a lot of fun,” he said of the children. “It’s a great age group. They’re wonderful to you, and always very polite.”
Fowler, 62, came to Nevada County after vacationing here for years from Southern California.
He is a Vietnam War veteran who was awarded the Purple Heart after he tripped on a booby-trap and was hit with shrapnel in 10 places, including both his legs, his abdomen and through his neck on Sept. 11, 1967.
Fowler, who observed in the U.S. Army, said he was one of the lucky ones on that day, as several of those in his detail died after the explosion.
He arrived in the county unemployed, and figured he’d answer a call for a maintenance man at the Nevada City School District.
He says he’s got no plan to go anywhere else.
“I’m very happy everything has worked out.”
To contact Staff Writer David Mirhadi, e-mail dmirhadi@theunion.com or call 477-4239.
Fowler, who spent 31 years in the Nevada City School District, retired before the beginning of this school year, but not before he left his mark on the school.
A sign dedicating a garden he helped create greets students and teachers at the school, and tall sunflowers, fruit and vegetable plants front a greenhouse he built that’s still used by students today.
“I just love the kids,” Fowler said on a recent tour of the greenhouse and gardens planted with marigolds, sunflowers, grapes, tomatoes, irises and rosemary. “They’re like family.”
The garden and a greenhouse Fowler worked weekends to build was finished in 1995, and is still being used today. A plaque commemorates the building of the greenhouse.
These are honors Fowler said he never expected.
“I wasn’t thinking in that direction,” Fowler said. “I just wanted a place for kids to grow their vegetables.”
Fowler retired this summer after working 13 years at Seven Hills Middle School and another 18 years at Gold Run Elementary, helping to open the school.
Gold Run was a magical place in those early days, Fowler said, as the school grew an identity.
“It was like Santa’s village,” Fowler said. “They’re a lot of fun,” he said of the children. “It’s a great age group. They’re wonderful to you, and always very polite.”
Fowler, 62, came to Nevada County after vacationing here for years from Southern California.
He is a Vietnam War veteran who was awarded the Purple Heart after he tripped on a booby-trap and was hit with shrapnel in 10 places, including both his legs, his abdomen and through his neck on Sept. 11, 1967.
Fowler, who observed in the U.S. Army, said he was one of the lucky ones on that day, as several of those in his detail died after the explosion.
He arrived in the county unemployed, and figured he’d answer a call for a maintenance man at the Nevada City School District.
He says he’s got no plan to go anywhere else.
“I’m very happy everything has worked out.”
To contact Staff Writer David Mirhadi, e-mail dmirhadi@theunion.com or call 477-4239.
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