James ‘Cowboy’ Fowlie Sr. of Melrose, retired police lieutenant, Vietnam vet

James Adams “Cowboy” Fowlie Sr. of Melrose, a retired police lieutenant and Vietnam War veteran, died September 16. He was 71.

He was a lifelong resident of Melrose and a 1963 graduate of Melrose High School.

He was also a graduate of Salem State College, Anna Maria College and received his doctorate at Columbia Pacific University in 1989.

He served in the Coast Guard during the Vietnam War and earned the rank of Quartermaster Third Class.

Mr. Fowlie taught at Melrose Junior High School from 1978 to 1981 and was an athletic trainer at Melrose High School.

He recently taught criminal justice at the college level.

Mr. Fowlie worked as a police officer from 1981 to 1986 when he was promoted to sergeant and later court prosecutor.

He was promoted to lieutenant in 1998 and served as night shift commander until retirement in 2002.

He was on the Fraternal Order of Police State Executive Board, chair of trustees and State Sgt. at Arms for the past three years.

He was the founding member of the FOP Lodge #25, which he represented as trustee for the last 10 years. He also wrote the history of the Melrose Police Department for the 100 anniversary of the city.

Mr. Fowlie is survived by his wife Paula J. (Ciampa) for 40 years; three sons, Christopher J. of Wakefield, James Adams Jr. of Tewksbury and Todd R. of Melrose; two daughters, Kaylin E. Spinazzola of Tewksbury and Susan Needleman of Revere; three brothers, Charles, Steven and Roy; a sister, Jean; eight grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. today at Melrose Highlands Congregational Church in Melrose. Burial will be private. Arrangements by Gately Funeral Home of Melrose.