John Anthony Dowdle was born January 9, 1923 as the third of five children born to Elizabeth Carey Dowdle and Raymond Richard Dowdle.  He was a three pound premature infant born in Chicago.  Living on the south side of Chicago his father, Raymond Dowdle, had a premier construction business known as the Nash-Dowdle Company.  His grandfather, John Dowdle, was the founder of this company along with his wife Margaret Nash Dowdle.  He died in 1921 and his three sons Thomas P., John J. and Raymond R. ran the construction business. Show more...