The Leo McDowell papers (1950-1986) contains correspondence, invitations, photographs, newspaper clippings, military insignia, and other ephemera that belonged to McDowell (1927-2017), a decorated African American Marine who served during World War II, Korean War, and the Vietnam War. McDowell earned accolades as a top Marine recruiter.

Sergeant Leo McDowell (1927-2017), a decorated African American Marine, served during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Born in Detroit, Michigan, McDowell joined the United States Navy during World War II when he was seventeen. He served for two years before enlisting with the US Marine Corps. McDowell assisted with integration efforts in the military during the Korean War. Quartermaster General W.P.T. Hill asked McDowell to serve on the Steward Inspection and Demonstration Team that sought equality for Black stewards. Between the wars, he was one of the first African American recruiting officers working out of a Hollywood office. McDowell retired from the military, after 25 years, when a grenade shattered his ankle during combat in Vietnam. He then worked for the Daylin Corp. in Beverly Hills, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Veterans Administration (VA), and in various private security firms. At the VA, McDowell was an equal-employment opportunity investigator where he met his wife, Alice Sims. McDowell was a lifelong Republican who supported President Nixon and served Ronald Reagan through his governorship of California and as President of the United States. Ill with Parkinson's disease, McDowell died in Littlerock, California on March 8, 2017

2 manuscript boxes,1 oversize box (1.59 Linear Feet)

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Box 3 may not be used without permission of the Archivist. The remainder of the collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.