Martin James McGowan Jr. (October 28, 1920 – August 13, 2009) was an American politician and newspaper editor.

Early life and education

Born in Appleton, Minnesota, McGowan went to the University of Notre Dame from 1938 to 1941 and then received his bachelor's degree from the University of Missouri in 1942.

Career

McGowan was the editor and publisher of the ''Appleton Press'', the ''Swift County Monitor-News'' and three other weekly newspapers in Minnesota. The Appleton Press was then a well written and well thought out small town newspaper that reported on the intimate details of local life, such as a visit by a citizen's out of town relative. A selection of his columns spanning those newspapers relate samples of his writing. On the occasion of his 80th birthday, he wrote a biographic article on his life growing up in a local newspaper family, his schooling, working with his father, traveling with the US Navy, and raising a family. McGowan served on the Blue Earth, Minnesota Planning Commission and the Appleton, Minnesota Library Board. From 1959 until 1967, McGowan served in the Minnesota House of Representatives as a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

. His nephew Rick Nolan also served in the Minnesota Legislature and six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. His son Martin James McGowan III graduated in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1966. McGowan died in

Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...

.John Carlton-Foss, Personal knowledge and MIT Alumni Directory.

Notes

1920 births 2009 deaths People from Appleton, Minnesota University of Notre Dame alumni University of Missouri alumni Editors of Minnesota newspapers Democratic Party members of the Minnesota House of Representatives 20th-century American legislators 20th-century Minnesota politicians {{Minnesota-politician-stub