ABOVE: Fowler Connell poses during 2020 Vermilion County Basketball Tournament at the David S. Palmer Arena, after being named CRIS Healthy Aging Center “Senior of the Year”
He spent over 50 years reporting on sports for Danville’s Commercial News, and over 25 contributing to the sports coverage on 1490 WDAN. Fowler Connell, a United States Navy Veteran who served on the USS Boston from 1943-46, was in Tokyo Bay when the Japanese surrender ending World War II was signed. And Connell said goodbye to Vermilion County when he passed away at 11:40 AM; Tuesday, October 6th at age 102, just days shy of his 102 1/2 birthday (October 18th).
Connell was born April 18, 1924. He began as a young sports reporter with the News-Gazette in 1949. Then, in 1952, he began his days with the Commercial – News; which ended when he retired as their sports editor in 1989.
Fowler Connell covered University of Illinois sports from the 1950s through 2021, being a credentialed member of the University of Illinois sports media for eight different decades.
Connell was also known for seeing, at age 14, Lou Gehrig’s final baseball game; attending with his mom to watch the Yankees play an exhibition game against their Double-A affiliate at the time, the Kansas City Blues.
It was at the time of his C-N retirement that Connell began his days as a full regular on local games broadcast on 1490-WDAN, as well as on WDAN’s Saturday Morning Sports Talk. He remained with WDAN for over 30 years.
There were so many great moments along the way. And they were especially celebrated during a 99th birthday party for Fowler, at American Legion Post 210, in April of 2023.
Former Neuhoff Media General Manager Mike Hulvey put that together, and these were his words on that day.
AUDIO: A wonderful turnout in celebrating Fowler Connell, who truly is a local icon. You look at his military service, you look at what he’s done in terms of supporting the local community as a volunteer after he retired. So to see so many people come out to honor him on his 99th birthday is just incredible.
Also looking back that day, Scott Eisenhauer.
AUDIO: It was amazing, when we were doing color commentating together; the number of stories that he could go back and retell. If you brought up anybody, I mean anybody that had a history of sports in Vermilion County, he would be able to go back. He’d remember some of their stats. He’d remember all about them. He’d even tell you what some of them are doing today. So that’s what I’ve always appreciated about him.
And from the Commercial-News at Fowler’s 99th party, Sports Editor at that time Chad Dare.
AUDIO: When we want to know history of what happened in Danville sports, we’re going to go to Fowler. In my 20 years here, he’s been the guy you talk to. He knows the most about everyone. He can tell you who the quarterback was on the 1975 Danville football team.
Pictures from Fowler Connell’s 99th birthday party at American Legion Post 210 in April of 2023. (1st Picture, Mike Hulvey on the microphone. 3rd Picture, Marty Lindvahl sings ‘Happy Birthday.’)
And the Navy Veteran who served on the USS Boston was indeed a devoted Red Sox fan. We spoke with him at his 99th party about how they would do that season.
AUDIO: Well, I hope they do well. You never know, they’re always competitive. (Well let’s hope the Red Sox win another one for you this year.) Well, let’s hope so. (Alright!)
And as Mike Hulvey reminds all of us, Fowler Connell’s favorite saying was “Every day is a good day. Some days are just better than others.”
Fowler Connell, 1924-2026
