Gowanlock began curling in his hometown of Glenboro, Manitoba. Gowanlock would later move to Dauphin, Manitoba where he worked for the Manitoba Department of Highways. He was inducted to the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in 1984.
He died in 1988.
Gowanlock was a two-time provincial and two-time Brier champion. Gowanlock and his rink of E. C. "Bung" Cartwell, Bill McKnight and Tom McKnight became the first team from rural Manitoba to win the Brier in 1938. He would win a second Brier in 1953 with teammates Jim Williams, Art Pollon and Russian Jackman. Gowanlock was 52 when he won the Brier, and is to date the oldest Brier winning skip in history. Gowanlock won four Manitoba Curling Association Bonspiels in his career, and played in 57 consecutive tournaments.
