Harris B. McDowell, Jr.
| Harris B. McDowell Jr. | |
|---|---|
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Delaware's At-large district |
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In office January 3, 1959 – January 3, 1967 |
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| Preceded by | Harry G. Haskell Jr. |
| Succeeded by | William V. Roth Jr. |
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In office January 3, 1955 – January 3, 1957 |
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| Preceded by | Herbert B. Warburton |
| Succeeded by | Harry G. Haskell Jr. |
| Member of the Delaware Senate | |
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In office January 3, 1943 - January 3, 1947 |
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| Member of the Delaware House of Representatives | |
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In office January 3, 1941 - January 3, 1943 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Harris Brown McDowell Jr. February 10, 1906 Middletown, Delaware, U.S. |
| Died | November 1988 (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 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.
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.
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.
McDowell died in Middletown, Delaware and is buried in the Forest Presbyterian Cemetery there. His son, Harris McDowell III, has served in the Delaware Senate since 1977.
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