Southwest Baptist University's Founders' Day
Back to Founders' Day Home Page
Dianna Dee Lowe
Dianna Dee Lowe, a native Missourian, graduated from Richland High School in 1958, and attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri.
Her professional career began as sales manager at Appleby Manufacturing Company, a family owned company. In 1964 Appleby Manufacturing Company was sold to a New York holding company. Mrs. Lowe and her husband, Carl, were employed as co-managers, and she was in charge of sales. One year during her tenure as sales manager, she and her staff sold 60,000 boats. That year the company was the recipient of the "Sears Symbol of Excellence Award."
In 1971, Mrs. Lowe and her husband started their own company, Lowe Industries, headquartered in Lebanon, Missouri. Lowe Industries began with 20 employees, and Mrs. Lowe once again was in charge of sales. In 1986 Lowe Industries was sold to Outboard Marine Corporation. Mrs. Lowe’s husband chose to pursue other business interests, but she remained with the new ownership as chairwoman and chief executive officer until her retirement in 1990. At the time of her retirement, the company, which had begun as Lowe Industries with only 20 employees, had grown exponentially to include 750 employees.
Mrs. Lowe is active in community service organizations. She was the first woman on the board of the Lebanon Chamber of Commerce, serving from 1975-1978. Also, she was a member of the Board of Directors for the Lebanon Area Foundation, the Board of Directors for Ozarks Public Television and the Lebanon Education Foundation. In 1993, former Governor Mel Carnahan appointed Mrs. Lowe to serve on the Missouri Business Council. In addition, Mrs. Lowe was a member of the Southwest Baptist University Board of Trustees from 1981-1983. Since her retirement, Mrs. Lowe has assisted in managing family investments.
One of Mrs. Lowe’s favorite activities is cooking for her family. After her relationship with God, her roles as wife, mother, sister, daughter and grandmother are most important to her. Her parents, J. B. and Gladys Appleby, who are 88 years old, still live in their own home in Lebanon. Mrs. Lowe and her husband have been married for 46 years and have three children and nine grandchildren. Mr. and Mrs. Lowe are members of First Baptist Church in Lebanon, where Mrs. Lowe taught Sunday school for many years.