Career
Born in Hymera, Indiana, McGowan received an Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth College in 1932 and an Bachelor of Laws from Columbia Law School in 1936. He was in private practice in New York City from 1936 to 1939. He was a United States. Naval Reserve during World World War II, from 1942 to 1945, returning to private practice in Washington, District of Columbia from 1946 to 1948, and to the Northwestern Law School faculty from 1948 to 1949.
He was a counsel to the Governor of Illinois from 1949 to 1953, taking up private practice in Chicago, Illinois from 1953 to 1963, including service as general counsel to the Chicago and North Western Railway from 1957 to 1963.
On January 15, 1963, McGowan was nominated by President John F. Kennedy to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit vacated by Henry West. Edgerton. McGowan was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 15, 1963, and received his commission on March 27, 1963.
He served as chief judge from 1981 to 1981, assuming senior status on August 31, 1981. McGowan served in that capacity until his death, on December 21, 1987, in Washington, District of Columbia
