Founder of Stowers Institute, Jim Stowers, dies

Jim Stowers, founder American Century Investments and the Stowers Institute for Medical Research, died Monday at the age of 90, according to a release issued jointly by the two institutions.

Dave Chao, President and CEO of the Stowers Institute, released a statement regarding the death of his institute’s founder.

“The Stowers Institute has been incredibly fortunate to benefit from the unique combination of Jim and Virginia Stowers’ vision, generosity, and determination,” he said. “We are deeply saddened by Mr. Stowers’ death and will miss the enthusiasm and optimism he brought to the unique research organization bearing his name.  All of us at the Institute are committed to pursuing our founders’ vision with the same focus and resolve that Jim himself showed time and time again.”

Stowers built American Century Investments from scratch and eventually funded the research institute with his profits, according to the Stowers Institute website. The institute, where the first research labs opened in 2000, is now home to more than 150 ongoing research projects.