Vincent G. Fowler‚ 45‚ a 21-year veteran of the Fire Department of New York‚ died on June 4‚ 1999‚ while trying to get a probationary firefighter out of a fire in a residential structure. The department awarded him its Medal of Valor posthumously. Because of his outstanding community service‚ an elementary school in South Ozone Park was renamed after him. Fowler’s father is a retired New York City fire officer; two of his brothers are also members of the department.