Arthur Edward Dowell

Arthur Edward Dowell

Class of 1937

Arthur Edward Dowell, 88, formerly chairman of the Political Science Department at Indiana State University, died early Saturday morning, October 11, 2008, of pneumonia, at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Annandale, Va., after months of battling to recover from brain surgery. He leaves his wife of 65 years, Matilda “Tillie” (Bouillez) Dowell; a daughter and son-in-law, Jane and Thomas Green; two grandchildren, Angela and Daniel; a sister, Ruth I. Dowell; a niece; and six nephews. He was preceded in death by four brothers, Hugh, Fred, Gilbert, and Firman.  Professor Dowell was born in Fontanet, to France and Zola (Muncie) Dowell on January 27, 1920. He graduated from Fontanet High School in 1937, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Indiana State University, while working summers at CCC Camp during the Depression. In 1943 he married his high school sweetheart, Tillie, whom he had known since the fourth grade. He then served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps for 46 months during World War II, including a year in Allied-occupied Italy. After his discharge from military service he obtained a master’s degree in political science from ISU, and then took a teaching position at Gerstmeyer High School in Terre Haute, which began his long career in education at the high school and college level. He continued his academic studies at the University of Chicago, earning a doctorate in international relations under the tutelage of one of the world’s most respected academicians in that field, Professor Quincy Wright.  He resumed his teaching career in 1952, at Grosse Pointe High School, in Grosse Pointe, Mich., where his only child was born. He was invited to apply for a teaching position at ISU in 1957, and after securing the job, the family returned to Terre Haute, where he and his wife resided until September of this year.  At ISU he pursued a 30-year career focused on giving his students the benefit of his considerable knowledge of international matters. Even though he was known as a tough professor, his classes were well attended, and many of his students credited him not only for his academic insights but also for his sage counsel and his success at preparing them for the real world. One of his proudest achievements was founding ISU’s Model United Nations program, and putting together a Model UN team that competed successfully against universities from throughout the country. His colleagues recognized his leadership, selecting him as the first chairman of ISU’s Faculty Council. The University recognized his dedication to upholding high academic standards by selecting him to chair the Political Science Department.  Professor Dowell retired from teaching in 1987, in order to travel and spend more time with his family, but he quickly took up new projects that kept him as busy as he had been during his teaching career. He mastered the intricacies of carpentry, plumbing, and electrical work, enabling him to do remodeling and repairs on rental properties and his own home, where he built bookcases, remodeled the basement, and finished the attic. He suffered a debilitating stroke in 2003, but worked hard to recover and resumed most of his previous activities. After moving to Virginia to be near his daughter while he recovered from surgery, he responded to a nurse’s question, “Are you a professor?” by saying, “No, I’m a carpenter.” His gentle, caring nature and enjoyment of all facets of life enriched all who knew him. Services are 1 p.m. Saturday at Mattox-Wood Funeral Home, 4660 N. Lafayette Ave., with the Rev. Larry Lilly officiating, and military honors will be conducted by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 972. Burial is at Roselawn Memorial Park. Visitation is 6 to 8 p.m. Friday.