In 1962, Jimmy Fowler, founder of Fowler Buick-GMC, attended a meeting of Sales and Marketing Executives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  There he heard exciting news about an organization that helped young people better understand the free enterprise system through a "learn by doing" experience.  That organization was Junior Achievement (JA).

His reaction?  "Well,  if Junior Achievement is so good for young people, why don't we have it in Mississippi?"   Fowler took on the mission of bringing Junior Achievement to Mississippi, starting with Jackson, the Capital City.

After contacting the Regional Office of Junior Achievement in Atlanta, Fowler brought together an influential group of business leaders at the Heidelberg Hotel in Downtown Jackson, Mississippi in 1963.  The Junior Achievement Regional Representatives explained the mission and vision of Junior Achievement and the benefits it would provide young people.  Following their presentation, Fowler made a pitch to Jackson's business leaders to establish Junior Achievement in Mississippi.  As in all successful business ventures, Fowler had not left the meeting's outcome to chance.  In advance of the meeting, he had convinced several of his peers of the need for educating Mississippi's young people about business.  As a result, when Fowler announced his own pledge for the project, he was quickly joined by several other prominent business people expressing their support...and Junior Achievement was a "GO" in Mississippi!  The first year JA programs were offered in Jackson, about 200 young people were involved.  Now, approximately 8,000 young people are reached annually.  Along the way, Jimmy Fowler led numerous campaigns for the organization, including the capital campaign to build the current Junior Achievement office and volunteer training facility, which was subsequently named the James E. Fowler Junior Achievement Business Center in his honor. James E. (Jimmy) Fowler, Sr. was born on June 12, 1920 and died on August 29, 2007.  James E. Fowler's legacy extends beyond his earthly lifetime through the business successes of countless children and young people...past, present, and future...who have received, are receiving, and will receive...quality economic education by volunteer business men and women using Junior Achievement's premier program material.