US Congressman. He attended the College of Marshall (now East Texas Baptist University) from 1929 to 1931, studied law and became a court reporter and attorney. From 1945 to 1952 Dowdy was District Attorney of the Texas third judicial district. In September 1952 he was the successful Democratic candidate in the special election that filled the vacancy caused by Thomas A. Pickett's resignation. Dowdy was reelected to ten full terms and served from September 1952 to January 1973. He had been convicted of several felonies when he retired, accused of accepting $25,000 to intervene in the federal investigation of Maryland's Monarch Construction Company. In 1971 he was convicted of conspiracy, transporting a bribe over state lines, and perjury. In 1973 the bribery and conspiracy convictions were overturned on appeal, but Dowdy served six months in prison for the perjury. Right wing groups who approved of Dowdy's efforts against homosexuality rallied to his defense, claiming that he was framed by officials of the US Justice Department who wanted to prevent Dowdy's investigation of alleged fraud at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. After leaving Congress Dowdy was President of the John and J.D. Dowdy Foundation and was active in numerous educational, civic and church organizations. In 1999 the Dowdy Foundation established the John Dowdy Memorial Congressional Research Endowed Fund at Baylor University.
US Congressman. He attended the College of Marshall (now East Texas Baptist University) from 1929 to 1931, studied law and became a court reporter and attorney. From 1945 to 1952 Dowdy was District Attorney of the Texas third judicial district. In September 1952 he was the successful Democratic candidate in the special election that filled the vacancy caused by Thomas A. Pickett's resignation. Dowdy was reelected to ten full terms and served from September 1952 to January 1973. He had been convicted of several felonies when he retired, accused of accepting $25,000 to intervene in the federal investigation of Maryland's Monarch Construction Company. In 1971 he was convicted of conspiracy, transporting a bribe over state lines, and perjury. In 1973 the bribery and conspiracy convictions were overturned on appeal, but Dowdy served six months in prison for the perjury. Right wing groups who approved of Dowdy's efforts against homosexuality rallied to his defense, claiming that he was framed by officials of the US Justice Department who wanted to prevent Dowdy's investigation of alleged fraud at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. After leaving Congress Dowdy was President of the John and J.D. Dowdy Foundation and was active in numerous educational, civic and church organizations. In 1999 the Dowdy Foundation established the John Dowdy Memorial Congressional Research Endowed Fund at Baylor University.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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