Bill Fowler was more than just the local play-by-play guy at Marion's WBAT. Before his career behind the microphone began in 1947, Bill was Marion High School's first Indiana All-Star in 1940. He played a year of freshman basektball at the University of Kentucky under Adolph Rupp, but left school to join the Coast Guard during World War II.
He returned to Marion, and was the voice of Marion High School football and basketball for more than 30 years. He called Marion's state championship games in 1975 and 1976.
Fowler was also a longtime member of the Marion school board and was instrumental in building the current basketball gymnasium large enough to host regional tournaments. He also was intrumental in the hiring of Bill Green to coach basketball after the retirement of Jack Colescott.
Fowler was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1986 and was a past president of the Indiana Broadcasters Association.
Fowler retired from broadcating in 1976, but remained at WBAT as general manager and later retired to one of his favorite pursuits, fishing on Lake Wawasee. He died in 1999.