Second Calling

>>Three months after becoming the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools' executive director, Marshall Bower still carries a folded and worn newspaper clipping in his wallet. It is a horoscope from the day he was offered the job, a fitting reminder of his new calling.

"I'm really not an astrology guy and I don't usually read my horoscope," says Bower. "I just happened to see it in the paper that day and it says that success is not necessarily about determination, or tenacity or dedication; what you need is passion. And that kind of sums up how I feel about this job."

The nonprofit organization promotes the quality of education in Lee County by increasing community involvement in the school district. Founded by business and community leaders in 1986, the foundation has contributed more than $23 million to improve local schools through such programs as the Golden Apple Teacher Recognition awards, Mini-Grants for Teachers and Take Stock in Children.

As a former deputy state attorney, Bower has been a well-known figure in Southwest Florida for more than two decades. He helped prosecute some of this region's highest-profile cases, including that of Kevin Foster, the youthful leader of the Lords of Chaos, who murdered a Riverdale High School teacher in 1996. Bower also brought charges against Justin Grodin, accused of abusing and murdering his 11-month-old infant.

Although arguing capital murder cases might seem far removed from the world of fundraising for nonprofits, Bower says the progression is a natural one.

"As a prosecutor I was sometimes accused of being a social worker, which I saw as a badge of honor," he says.

"Marshall has great people skills and he's always been particularly energized for children's issues," says Paul Liles, Bower's former partner at Bower & Liles PA.