Week 1

By Rod Shealy, Publisher The New Irmo News Week One

               I was in shopping in K-mart Sunday afternoon when my phone rang.  (You are probably assuming I was shopping to update my wardrobe, but actually, I was simply buying paint.)  It was my close friend Jerry Fowler calling. 

            We hadn’t talked in several weeks, but over the last few years, we’ve stayed in touch quite regularly, working together on matters of business, marketing, politics, networking,  you name it.

            Jerry is well-known here in the Midlands for his real estate brokerage, as well as his weekly radio talk-show.  He has boundless energy, and one of the most-positive attitudes of anyone I have ever met.  He’s an achiever.            

            Years ago, I knew his name, like many others, from his aggressive marketing. His name seemed ubiquitous.  (“Ubiquitous”, incidentally, is our Big Word of the Week.)  My first personal contact, although indirect, came in the late-1990’s when Mom and Dad had a much-too-large home on the market for the better part of a decade.  Finally, after almost giving up on ever selling it, they called on Jerry Fowler, who did what no one else had been able to do:  He sold their house!!! 

            Fast forward to 2003:  I, along with others, helped talk Jerry Fowler into running for a seat on the Richland/Lexington District 5 School Board.  As it turned out, Jerry was a natural vote-getter, and turned out to be one of the positive forces on that board. His campaign for school board is when I really got to know him. 

            Since that time, we’ve worked together on a number of projects. Turns out, we have a lot in common.  He’s a successful businessman, and I’m a businessman; he usually starts working each day early in the morning, and I usually finish working early in the morning;  he has lots of friends, and I have lots of relatives.  Actually, I’m constantly amazed at the sheer numbers of friends and acquaintances he knows personally. 

            In addition to his thousands of loyal radio listeners, Jerry touches hundreds of local businesses each week through the local networking organizations he has fostered. In short, Jerry Fowler is just a first-class, top-notch, full-of-life, super-positive person.

            Which is why it stunned me to hear him tell me on the phone that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer, advanced lung cancer which appears to have spread from elsewhere.  It seemed like bad news,  but Jerry didn’t sound like he was delivering bad news.  Instead, he sounded full of positive energy, as usual. 

            “I know it’s going to be a big challenge,” he said, characteristically.  “I want to face it with a positive attitude.” Then he took it a step further. “More importantly, I want to use this opportunity to do something positive for other people,” he explained.  “I want to tell my story, step-by-step, as I face these upcoming challenges, and maybe it will somehow help others overcome obstacles they face.” He asked if I would help him put it into words. 

             I told him of course I would, because, frankly, his positive attitude is contagious.  It does seem like a good idea. So this is a beginning. 

            Starting today, we’ll be helping Jerry tell this new chapter in his story, along with, I’m confident, many other newspapers, magazines, publishers, etc. who will join in spreading this valuable lesson:  facing a challenge with a positive attitude.  And I’m certain we’ll be updating you regularly on Jerry’s progress for many, many years to come.

$2,750,000 - Columbia, SC @ Wildewood

MLS#

298764

Class:

Residential

Status:

Active

Beds:

4

Baths:

4 Full / 2 Half

School:

Richland Two

Provided courtesy of ERA Wilder Realty
Aspen Designed Architectural Masterpiece. 8400 sq ft of Spectacular Craftsmanship Resonate through out one of Wildewood's Premiere addresses. 4 Bed...

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$1,600,000 - Columbia, SC @ Wildewood

MLS#

270225

Class:

Residential

Status:

Active

Beds:

4

Baths:

3 Full / 2 Half

School:

Richland Two

Provided courtesy of Russell & Jeffcoat 07
GREAT OPPORTUNITY! WildeWood executive/professional estate-8.5 acres. Total of over 1,200' water frontage on lake + additional 174' on pond. Possib...

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$1,500,000 - Columbia, SC @ Wexford On The Lake

MLS#

303138

Class:

Residential

Status:

Active

Beds:

7

Baths:

6 Full / 4 Half

School:

Lexington/Richland Five

Provided courtesy of RE/MAX Real Estate Consultants
Elegant contemporary executive estate in Wexford on the Lake. This custom built home is located on 1.2 acres w/237 feet of lake frontage! Over 8700...

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$1,385,000 - Columbia, SC @ Forest Lake

MLS#

255956

Class:

Residential

Status:

Active

Beds:

4

Baths:

3 Full / 1 Half

School:

Richland Two

Provided courtesy of Bollin Ligon Walker Realtors
Beautiful 3 yr old traditional with sunset views across Forest Lake. 10 ft ceilings down & 9 ft upstairs*378 ft roughed-in with wiring & plumbing ...

 View Listing

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$1,300,000 - Columbia, SC @ None

MLS#

302963

Class:

Residential

Status:

Active

Beds:

4

Baths:

4 Full / 2 Half

School:

Lexington/Richland Five

Provided courtesy of Russell & Jeffcoat
Spectacular in every aspect. Phenomenal view of lake includes the dam, AND the city skyline! Tremendous features include spray foam insulation, cen...

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$1,250,000 - Columbia, SC @ Lake Carolina - The Peninsula

MLS#

302547

Class:

Residential

Status:

Active

Beds:

5

Baths:

4 Full / 2 Half

School:

Richland Two

Provided courtesy of EXIT Real Estate Solutions
Custom, waterfront home in Lake Carolina's gated "The Peninsula" subdivision. Stunning details throughout. All brick construction with majestic col...

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$1,195,000 - Columbia, SC @ None

MLS#

280373

Class:

Residential

Status:

Active

Beds:

5

Baths:

5 Full / 1 Half

School:

Richland One

Provided courtesy of Weichert Rlt,Ray Covington 01
Grand Estate with 3 acres, fabulous home with pool, reflection pond, 2 large storage facilities

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$1,190,000 - Columbia, SC @ Wales Garden

MLS#

304524

Class:

Residential

Status:

Active

Beds:

4

Baths:

4 Full / 1 Half

School:

Richland One

Provided courtesy of Coldwell Banker United
ONE OF THE MOST ELEGANT & STATELY HOMES IN COLA! LARGE GRACIOUS ROOMS W/10 FT CEILINGS. BEAUTIFUL YARD W/POOL & ROSE GARDEN. FULL BASEMENT W/ WINE ...

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$1,125,000 - Columbia, SC @ Ashworth Place

MLS#

285912

Class:

Residential

Status:

Active

Beds:

4

Baths:

4 Full / 1 Half

School:

Richland Two

Provided courtesy of Coldwell Banker United 01
GORGEOUS LAKE FRONT HOME IN PRESTIGIOUS GATED COMMUNITY. CUSTOM FEATURES W/ATTENTION TO DETAIL. DRAMATIC ENTRY FOYER W/MARBLE FLOORS & HANGING STAI...

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$1,100,000 - Columbia, SC @ Wales Garden

MLS#

293236

Class:

Residential

Status:

Active

Beds:

4

Baths:

4 Full / 1 Half

School:

Richland One

Provided courtesy of Home Shop Realty Company
$1million+ in today's market requires perfection. Location, condition, amenities, history and the type of living experience that makes staying home...

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