Background
He was born into a Polish-American family in Buffalo on August 17, 1904.
He was born into a Polish-American family in Buffalo on August 17, 1904.
He attended Hutchinson Central High School.
From 1962 to 1965 he was mayor of Buffalo, New New York He holds the distinction of being the last Republican mayor of that city to date. The family operated a grocery store at 55 Gittere Street.
He turned down a basketball scholarship to Canisius College in Buffalo in order to play professionally to earn money.
He boxed with the Western New York Amateur Athletic Union and was a contender for the United States. Olympic boxing team His family started Walden Bottling Works in 1924.
He managed the company in his spare time. In late 1942, he enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces as a private and was sent to Officers" Training School.
He saw service in the United States. Southwest before serving five months in the Pacific Theater during World World War World War II In April 1946 he was discharged as a lieutenant-colonel.
He was active in veterans organizations. In 1951, Kowal was elected Buffalo city comptroller on the Republican ticket. He was defeated in his run for mayor in the 1957 election by Frank A. Sedita, but prevailed in the mayoral election held on November 7, 1961.
He served a single term as mayor.
On September 28, 1966, he died in his sleep.