Thomas F. McGowan

He was born on August 11, 1925, in Buffalo, New York. During World War II he served in the U.S. Army, attaining the rank of corporal. From 1947 to 1957, he was a Buffalo police officer. At the same time he continued his studies, and graduated B.Soc.Sc. in 1950 and M.Ed. in 1953 from Canisius College. In 1951, he married Dorothy Ann Rowe (1926–2011),[1] and they had six children.[2] He graduated J.D. from the University of Buffalo Law School in 1957, was admitted to the bar, and practiced law in Buffalo.[3] He was an Assistant D.A. of Erie County from 1957 to 1967, and entered politics as a Republican.

McGowan was a member of the Board of Supervisors of Erie County from 1962 to 1963; and a member of the New York State Senate from 1966 to 1974, sitting in the 176th, 177th, 178th, 179th and 180th New York State Legislatures. In November 1974, he was re-elected, but he resigned his seat upon appointment to the New York Supreme Court.[4] In November 1976, he was elected to a 14-year term on the Supreme Court, remaining on the bench until the end of 1990. On September 18, 1991, he was appointed as a Judge of the Buffalo City Court, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Alois Mazur, and remained on the bench until the end of the year.[5]

McGowan died on July 23, 1997, in the veterans unit of Genesee Memorial Hospital in Batavia, New York;[6] and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

• Thomas F. McGowan at Find a Grave