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A good read on Bobby Lowder (Auburn's most influential booster)
Posted on 11/16/10 at 12:14 am
Posted on 11/16/10 at 12:14 am
A Tiger of a trustee
By Mike Fish
ESPN.com
AUBURN, Ala. -- Bobby Lowder hunkers low in his black leather chair, looking seemingly detached as a recent board of trustees meeting drags into a second hour. One by one, swimmers and golfers parade before the board to be recognized for bringing homage to Auburn University.
Keeping with the jock theme, a tired looking Pat Dye, the successful former coach whose program also copped a lengthy NCAA rap sheet of ethical shortcomings, shuffles forward as a resolution is heard to name Auburn's football field after him. Before the unanimous voice vote can be called, trustee/megabooster Jimmy Rane adoringly pipes up: "Point of order, Mr. Chairman. Like to know how many times I can vote?"
Bobby Lowder
Bobby Lowder appears to be a good listener, but is said to do most of talking before Auburn's board of trustees meet.
Lowder breaks into a grin and joins in the belly laughter. But that's it. No ranting, no raving. Other than recommending approval of the 2006 budget, the longtime trustee and finance chairman barely utters a peep.
And this gaunt character clad in blue blazer and orange print tie is the MPB -- the Most Powerful Booster -- of college sports? Damn straight, folks.
Other big-time college boosters might give even larger sums to buy influence within their schools' athletic department. They get their names plastered on stadiums and weight rooms. They watch games from luxury suites. But no fat cat alive plays the political game to influence a campus quite like the 63-year-old Lowder (Auburn, Class of '64).
Few sit on their university's board of trustees and, if so, not as long as Lowder, who was first appointed by Gov. George Wallace in 1983. Nor has anyone filibustered, doled out campaign contributions or fought as tenaciously to hold his post.
After his first 12-year term ended in 1995, Lowder spent four years resisting efforts by former Alabama Gov. Fob James, a GOP firebrand, to move him off the state university's powerful board, even filing suit against the governor. In 1999, former Gov. Don Siegelman appointed the bank tycoon to another 12-year gig through 2011. State election records indicate Lowder personally gave at least $25,000 to Siegelman's 1998 campaign.
Read the rest of the article if you want to learn about the inner workings of Auburn and dirty politics in the state of Alabama. Bobby Lowder
By Mike Fish
ESPN.com
AUBURN, Ala. -- Bobby Lowder hunkers low in his black leather chair, looking seemingly detached as a recent board of trustees meeting drags into a second hour. One by one, swimmers and golfers parade before the board to be recognized for bringing homage to Auburn University.
Keeping with the jock theme, a tired looking Pat Dye, the successful former coach whose program also copped a lengthy NCAA rap sheet of ethical shortcomings, shuffles forward as a resolution is heard to name Auburn's football field after him. Before the unanimous voice vote can be called, trustee/megabooster Jimmy Rane adoringly pipes up: "Point of order, Mr. Chairman. Like to know how many times I can vote?"
Bobby Lowder
Bobby Lowder appears to be a good listener, but is said to do most of talking before Auburn's board of trustees meet.
Lowder breaks into a grin and joins in the belly laughter. But that's it. No ranting, no raving. Other than recommending approval of the 2006 budget, the longtime trustee and finance chairman barely utters a peep.
And this gaunt character clad in blue blazer and orange print tie is the MPB -- the Most Powerful Booster -- of college sports? Damn straight, folks.
Other big-time college boosters might give even larger sums to buy influence within their schools' athletic department. They get their names plastered on stadiums and weight rooms. They watch games from luxury suites. But no fat cat alive plays the political game to influence a campus quite like the 63-year-old Lowder (Auburn, Class of '64).
Few sit on their university's board of trustees and, if so, not as long as Lowder, who was first appointed by Gov. George Wallace in 1983. Nor has anyone filibustered, doled out campaign contributions or fought as tenaciously to hold his post.
After his first 12-year term ended in 1995, Lowder spent four years resisting efforts by former Alabama Gov. Fob James, a GOP firebrand, to move him off the state university's powerful board, even filing suit against the governor. In 1999, former Gov. Don Siegelman appointed the bank tycoon to another 12-year gig through 2011. State election records indicate Lowder personally gave at least $25,000 to Siegelman's 1998 campaign.
Read the rest of the article if you want to learn about the inner workings of Auburn and dirty politics in the state of Alabama. Bobby Lowder
This post was edited on 11/16/10 at 12:46 am
2
Posted on 11/16/10 at 12:24 am to CrimsonTusk
quote:
63-year-old Lowder (Auburn, Class of '64)
He graduated college at 17?
Posted on 11/16/10 at 12:41 am to TheHiddenFlask
quote:
He graduated college at 17?
LINK The article was published on January 13, 2006. Assuming his birthday isn't before January 13, he turned 64 in 2006. 2006 is 42 years after 1964. 64-42=22 years old at time of graduation.
This post was edited on 11/16/10 at 12:43 am
Posted on 11/16/10 at 1:07 am to CrimsonTusk
Simply amazing how he and Dye are still so close and influential to Auburn. We all know both of them are behind everything that goes on there and they're going to be responsible for getting Auburn the hammer.
Posted on 11/16/10 at 6:12 am to bigpapamac
So, this must be the update on the now former banking magnate.
Lowder is one of those corporate cowboys that drove the economy into the ground and no doubt ruined the lives of tons of small investors.
Sounds like a real POS.
LINK
Lowder is one of those corporate cowboys that drove the economy into the ground and no doubt ruined the lives of tons of small investors.
Sounds like a real POS.
LINK
This post was edited on 11/16/10 at 6:13 am
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