Charles S. McDowell

Charles Samuel McDowell Jr. ( born October 17, 1871 in Eufaula, Alabama, † May 22, 1943 ) was an American politician (Democratic Party) and interim governor of Alabama.

Life

Charles McDowell attended private schools in Eufaula, graduated from the University of Alabama and then opened his own law practice in Eufaula in October 1897. He decided in 1908 to pursue a political career by running for the office of mayor of Eufaula and was elected, an office which he held until 1912. He was also a delegate to the 1912 Democratic National Convention in Baltimore, Moderator of the Synod of Alabama, Worshipful Master, Harmony Lodge, Masons, Knights of Pythias, a, a Redman, Woodman of the World, a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, and the Kiwanis Club. He was also the 1915-1916 President of the Bar Association of Alabama. After he was elected in 1918 as representative of the 14th district in the Senate of Alabama. He was captain of the Eufaula Rifles, and Colonel in the staffs of Governors Samford, Jelks and Henderson.

McDowell was 1923-1927 Vice- governor of Alabama, where he was a 1923 interim governor from the 10th to the 11th of July, when there was the acting Governor William W. Brandon for 21 days outside the state. The state constitution of Alabama required if an incumbent governor is for more than 20 days outside the state that his deputy official business takes over until his return.

McDowell died on 22 May 1943 and was buried at the Fairview Cemetery in Eufaula. He had married on October 15, 1902 in Eufaula Caroline Dent.