One of Audrain County’s most beloved businessmen and residents celebrated a milestone over the weekend.

Fowler Ennis celebrated his 100th birthday Sunday attending church in the morning, followed by a light lunch and a ZOOM call in the afternoon, allowing well-wishers the opportunity to visit.

Due to COVID-19 concerns, the celebration was much more reserved than his late mother’s - who also lived to be 100 - years earlier.

But it was a celebration nonetheless.

Immediate family gathered later in the day for their traditional spaghetti supper with coconut cake for dessert, something they’ve enjoyed for decades.

Born Dec. 27, 1920, Fowler grew up in northern Arkansas and the family would relocate to St. Louis when he was a young adult. It was there that in 1947 Ennis Implement was born after Fowler, his father, James, and brother Leon met with International Harvester where they laid the groundwork to bring a dealership in Vandalia. That was March; a month later, James and Leon moved to Vandalia and in November 1947, Ennis Implement opened its doors. Fowler moved to Vandalia in 1948, and since those early years, the business has truly been a family affair.

A World War II Army veteran, Fowler received his draft notice as he and wife Dolora were expecting daughter Mary. During the war he would be stationed in Texas and while he never was overseas, he was close. He was actually waiting to catch a bus to ship out for probable combat when at the last moment, he was pulled from the line to go to Camp Hood (now Fort Hood). There, he served by training troops in hand-to-hand combat and small arms. He later learned that if he had taken the bus, he would have likely been bound for the Battle of the Bulge.

His military career concluded at the end of the war and upon returning home, Fowler continued to serve - this time in the Vandalia community. In addition to helping establish Ennis as a name synonymous with farm equipment, he gave his time to a variety of efforts. He was on the board of municipal utilities for a long enough term that he saw the completion of two major water projects, including the construction of the reservoir north of town. He also served on the economic development board that helped bring in the women’s prison as well as the power plant.

Fowler continues to live at home and is doing well, thanks in part to his active routine that includes 30 minutes of walking a day. He enjoys drives with family around the Audrain County countryside and has vivid memories of days passed.

“He knows who lives where and what kind of tractor they drove back in the day,” says daughter Mary Pfeiffer, of Plano, Texas.

Years ago, Fowler wrote his memories and the memories of his mother. Later, those writings would be gathered into a family history book totaling about 200 pages. Recording his thoughts was something he did to benefit his family, “so they would know how to get along”, as Mary states. She added his life philosophy has been to “make sure the other person has more.”

‘Getting along’ was something the Ennis family apparently did well as the family business has thrived since its 1940s beginnings, and included Brenneman-Ennis Hardware for about 30 years until its closing in 2018. Today, Ennis Implement has three locations, including Vandalia, Troy and Mexico. Fowler retired from day-to-day operation in 2005.

Fowler Ennis family members include his children, Mrs. Kenneth (Diann) Six, Jefferson City; Gail Breneman, Vandalia; Mary Pfeiffer, Plano, Texas; Phil Ennis (wife Sheila), Vandalia; eight grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and 10 great-great-grandchildren.

Only immediate family attended the Sunday celebration, including his children and their spouses; Kurt and Amy (granddaughter) Child with Ennis and Erin,Vandalia; Ken and Leticia Jolly (granddaughter), Dallas; and Paul Six (grandson), Columbia.