Harris B. McDowell, Jr.

Harris B. McDowell, Jr.
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Delaware's At-large district
In office January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1967
Preceded by	Harry G. Haskell, Jr.
Succeeded by	William V. Roth, Jr.
In office January 3, 1955 – January 3, 1957
Preceded by	Herbert B. Warburton
Succeeded by	Harry G. Haskell, Jr.
Personal details
Born	(1906-02-10)February 10, 1906 Middletown, Delaware, U.S.
Died	November 1, 1988(1988-11-01) (aged 82) Middletown, Delaware, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Children	Harris McDowell III
Residence	Middletown, Delaware
Alma mater	Beacom Business College
Occupation	farmer

Harris Brown McDowell, Jr. (February 10, 1906 – November 1, 1988) was an American farmer and politician from Middletown, in New Castle County, Delaware. He was a member of the Democratic Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly and five terms as U. S. Representative from Delaware.

Early life and family

McDowell was born near Middletown, Delaware. He attended the public schools of Middletown, and graduated from Beacom Business College in Wilmington. He lived in Middletown, was engaged in farming, also in the insurance and real estate business, and was a member of the State Board of Agriculture from 1937 until 1940.

Political career

McDowell served in the State House during the 1941/42 session and then in the State Senate for the 1943/44 and 1945/46 sessions. During those years he was a director of Interstate Milk Producers Cooperative and member of Delaware Farm Bureau from 1941 until 1948. He served as Secretary of State for Delaware during Governor Elbert N. Carvel's first term, from 1949 until 1953 and was a member of New Castle County Zoning Commission in 1953 and 1954.

McDowell was elected to the U.S. Representatives in 1954, defeating Republican Lillian I. Martin. During this term, he served with the Democratic majority in the 84th Congress. He lost his bid for a second term in 1956 to Republican Harry G. Haskell, Jr. McDowell then was elected again to the U.S. Representatives in 1958, defeating incumbent Republican U.S. Representative Harry G. Haskell, Jr., and won election three more times, also defeating Republicans James T. McKinstry in 1960, Wilmer F. Williams in 1962, and James H. Snowden in 1964. During these terms, he served with the Democratic majority in the 86th, 87th, 88th, and 89th Congress. Finally, he lost his bid for a sixth term in 1966 to William V. Roth, Jr., then a Wilmington lawyer. His support of President Lyndon Johnson's war policies may have contributed to his defeat. In all, he served twice, once from January 3, 1955 until January 3, 1957, and again from January 3, 1959 until January 3, 1967, during the administrations of U.S. Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and Lyndon B. Johnson.

Death and legacy

McDowell died at Middletown and is buried in the Forest Presbyterian Cemetery there. His son, Harris McDowell III, has served in the Delaware Senate since 1977.

Almanac

Elections are held the first Tuesday after November 1. Members of the General Assembly take office the second Tuesday of January. State Senators have a four-year term and State Representatives have a two-year term. U.S. Representatives take office January 3 and have a two-year term.

References

• Martin, Roger (1997). Elbert N. Carvel. Wilmington, Delaware: Delaware Heritage Press. ISBN 0-924117-08-7. 
• Hoffecker, Carol E. (2000). Honest John Williams. Newark, Delaware: University of Delaware Press. 
• Martin, Roger A. (1995). Memoirs of the Senate. Newark, Delaware: Roger A. Martin. 
• Cohen, Celia (2002). Only in Delaware, Politics and Politicians in the First State. Newark, Delaware: Grapevine Publishing. 

External links

• Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Delaware’s Members of Congress
• Harris Brown McDowell Jr. entry at The Political Graveyard

Members of the United States House of Representatives from Delaware Vining Patten Latimer Bayard C. Rodney Broom Van Dyke Ridgely Cooper T. Clayton McLane Hall D. Rodney Johns Milligan Robinson G. Rodney J. Houston Riddle Cullen Whiteley Fisher Temple Smithers Nicholson Biggs Lofland J. Williams Martin Lore Penington Causey Willis Handy J. Hoffecker W. Hoffecker Ball H. Houston Burton Heald Brockson Miller Polk Layton Boyce R. Houston Adams Stewart Allen G. Williams Traynor Willey Boggs Warburton McDowell Haskell Roth du Pont Evans Carper Castle Carney