FOWLER Cherokee County has the best coroner among the 46 in South Carolina. Dennis Fowler has been named South Carolina Coroner Of The Year. The award was presented June 10 by The South Carolina Coroner's Association during the organization's banquet held in conjunction with its annual training and conference at Litchfield Beach and Golf Resort at Pawley's Island.

In presenting the award, association president Tim Carlton cited Fowler's dedication to modernizing the Cherokee County Coroner's Office by putting it on the cutting edge of investigative technology and the initiation of a number of programs.

"Since taking office Dennis Fowler has developed one program after the other taking them to the public in an effort to educate citizens about preventable deaths and the role of the coroner in South Carolina. He does an excellent job and most recently worked single handily with the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles to gain access to the agency's vehicle and driver's license records for every coroner in the state. Dennis is very deserving of this award," Carlton said.

After receiving the award, Fowler told members, "I am at a loss for words as you all have truly surprised me. I am elated to receive this most prestigious award and thank you for selecting me. It is an honor to serve the people. At the end of the day, that is what this job is all about, being there for and taking care of the family who has lost a loved one."

Shortly after taking office in January 2007, Fowler developed an antidrug and anti-alcohol Power Point program he calls "Scared Stiff." He presents the program to high school and college students in an effort to reduce fatalities associated with the vices. Fowler has other programs that include an overview of his office that is often presented to church and civic organizations along with one related to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome that he presents to nursing students and parent education classes.

Fowler was also cited for his utilization of the coroner's van to transport victims of non-natural deaths saving taxpayers the expense of ambulance transport and for his upgrading of the computer technology and radio communications in his office which allows direct connection with every agency in Cherokee County along with most state agencies.

Fowler has also brought high tech digital photography into his office for use in case investigation and archiving. Carlton also praised Fowler for the compassion shown in each case, putting himself in the position of the family he is dealing with.