For generations of St. Louis youth, Dr. Flint Fowler has been more than a leader. He has been a mentor, a champion and a steady hand guiding them toward brighter futures.
This year, his tireless dedication to education and youth empowerment will be celebrated with the Salute to Excellence in Education Lifetime Achiever Award, presented by the St. Louis American Foundation. It’s a recognition that mirrors the profound impact he has had on countless lives.
“Somehow, I set a model to put the right opportunities or tools in place for young people, the right programs, the right services, and the right people that they could connect with. It’s pretty gratifying to know that I contributed to someone’s well-being.”
Fowler’s passion for helping young people succeed has long inspired those around him. Under his leadership, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis reached new heights, transforming the lives of countless youth through his commitment to cultivating greatness. He first took the helm in 1996, when the organization was still known as the Herbert Hoover Boys & Girls Club on North Grand Boulevard — a role that would define the next three decades of his life’s work.
After nearly three decades of dedication, service and hard work, Fowler retired in 2024, leaving behind a legacy that stretches far beyond the Boys & Girls Clubs. His leadership has touched nearly every corner of youth development in the region — from guiding young scouts through the Boy Scouts of America Greater St. Louis Area Council to opening doors of opportunity with Saint Louis University’s Upward Bound program, Operation Teamwork and INROADS-St. Louis. In each role, his steady hand and compassionate vision have helped young people see what’s possible for their future.
“I’m really excited to receive the award. It was difficult for me to kind of imagine myself in that position. But I guess as I look back over my career and the opportunities that I’ve had, it seems pretty exciting to me,” Fowler said.
Fowler’s three adult children remember him not only as a leader in the community but as a steady presence at home. Stacey Fowler, his youngest daughter, recalls how her dad always reminded her to try her best, no matter how difficult the task. Before dropping Stacey and her siblings — Jessica and Evan — off at college, he left them with words they still carry today: “Never forget who you are or whose you are.”
Jessica remembers a moment that perfectly captures her father’s way of encouraging connection. During her residency at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, he asked if she knew the name of one of the cafeteria staff members — and whether she had heard about the woman’s daughter, who wanted to study medicine. To Jessica, it was clear what he was really saying: “Go and connect. Go and support.” That gentle nudge to see others, to invest in them, has been one of the greatest lessons her father has taught.
June Fowler, his wife of 44 years, says her husband is a man of joy. “He brings joy wherever he is,” she said, noting that even in high school, he was voted “Friendliest Kid” — she jokingly called him “Friendly Flint Fowler.”
That same spirit of generosity has shaped their family life. After becoming empty nesters in 2009, the couple enjoyed seven years of “footloose and fancy-free” living. But when their six-year-old great-niece needed a stable home, June turned to her husband and asked if they could open their home. His answer was immediate: “It’s not even a question — of course she can stay with us.” The couple has been raising her ever since; now a teenager, she has just started high school, a reflection of the couple’s continued commitment to family.
Before stepping into leadership at the Boys & Girls Clubs in 1996, Fowler had already dedicated his career to youth development through several other programs. A lifelong learner himself, he earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and Black studies and a master’s in psychology with an emphasis in Minority Mental Health from Washington University, followed by a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Saint Louis University.
When he retired in December 2024 after 28 years as president of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis, he left behind an organization that had grown from one site into a network of 11, reaching nearly 14,000 young people each year. Under his guidance, the Clubs expanded to offer programs in leadership, academic success, career readiness, the arts and athletics — along with initiatives like Mentor St. Louis, Keystone Clubs, Diplomas to Degrees, Money Matters, Career Launch, St. Louis Internship programs, and even a free dental clinic.
“When someone asks me to reflect on my life, I get a chance to say, Wow, maybe I did make a difference,” Fowler said. “Somehow, I set a model to put the right opportunities or tools in place for young people, the right programs, the right services, and the right people that they could connect with. It’s pretty gratifying to know that I contributed to someone’s well-being.”
The St. Louis American Foundation’s 38th Annual Salute to Excellence in Education will take place on Saturday, November 1st at America’s Center in downtown. For tickets or more information, visit www.stlamerican.com.