Louis F. Dow

Last updated
Louis F. Dow
Louis F. Dow (Burlington, Vermont mayor).jpg
Burlington Free Press and Times (April 1, 1935)
28th Mayor of Burlington, Vermont
In office
April 1935 –April 1939
Preceded by James Edmund Burke
Succeeded by John J. Burns
President of the Burlington, Vermont Board of Aldermen
In office
April 1934 –April 1935
Preceded byRoswell J. Bromley
Succeeded byHugh L. Finnegan
In office
April 1933 –December 1933
Preceded byF. W. Shepardson
Succeeded byRoswell J. Bromley
Member of the Burlington, Vermont Board of Aldermen from Ward 6
In office
April 1934 –April 1935
Preceded byEthan V. Howard
Succeeded byWilliam H. Wilson
Member of the Burlington, Vermont Board of Aldermen from Ward 5
In office
April 1932 –December 1933
Preceded byHarry C. Wheelock
Succeeded byRay D. Crane
Personal details
Born(1892-09-18)September 18, 1892
Burlington, Vermont, U.S.
DiedFebruary 18, 1964(1964-02-18) (aged 71)
Burlington, Vermont
Resting place Lakeview Cemetery, Burlington, Vermont
Political party Republican
Spouse(s)Georgina Macaulay (m. 1922-1964, his death)
Children1
Education University of Vermont
OccupationNewspaper reporter and editor
Public relations and advertising executive
Financial services industry executive
Military service
AllegianceFlag of the United States (1912-1959).svg United States
Branch/serviceFlag of the United States Navy (official).svg  United States Navy
Years of service1918
Rank Cadet Flight Officer
Unit Citizens' Military Training Camp, Camp Devens, Massachusetts
United States Navy Training Detachment, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Battles/wars World War I

Louis F. Dow (September 18, 1892 - February 18, 1964) was an American businessman and politician from Burlington, Vermont. A Republican, he was most notable for his service as mayor of Burlington from 1935 to 1939.

Contents

Early life

Louis Fenner Dow was born in Burlington, Vermont on September 18, 1892, the son of Gilbert and Mary (Root) Dow. [1] He attended the schools of Burlington and was a 1910 graduate of Burlington High School. [2] In 1915, he graduated from the University of Vermont with a bachelor of science degree in commerce and economics. [3] While in college, Dow joined the Sigma Phi fraternity, in which he maintained a lifelong interest. [1]

Start of career

After graduating from college, Dow joined the staff of The Burlington Free Press as a reporter. [4] He subsequently joined the Burlington Daily News as assistant managing editor. [5] [6]

In the summer of 1918, Dow attended the Citizens' Military Training Camp held at Camp Devens, Massachusetts. [7] In the fall of 1918, he held the rank of cadet flight officer [8] and received training in aviation at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's United States Navy training detachment. [9]

Dow was discharged after the Armistice ended the war in November 1918 and subsequently returned to the Burlington Daily News as the paper's city editor. [10] In addition, he acquired his initial political experience as secretary of the Burlington Republican Committee's 1921 mayoral nominating convention. [11] Dow was long interested in University of Vermont alumni activities, and in 1922 he became editor of the alumni association's weekly newspaper. [12]

During his college years, Dow was captain of the school tennis team. [13] As an adult, he maintained an interest in sports including golf and tennis, participated in numerous tournaments, and won several amateur championships. [14] [15] Dow was also active in social and charitable organizations, including the Ethan Allen Club and the advisory board of the Burlington-area Salvation Army. [1] He was also an active member of Burlington's Episcopal Cathedral Church of St. Paul. [1]

Continued career

Dow later left the newspaper business for a career in public relations and advertising and was president of his own agency, Dow-Peterson, Inc. [16] In 1932 he was a successful Republican candidate to represent Burlington's Ward Five on the board of aldermen. [17] [18] In early 1933, Dow was elected president of the board of aldermen. [19] In late 1933, he lost his aldermanic seat when his family moved into a new home he had constructed, which was outside Ward 5. [20]

In February 1934, Dow announced his candidacy as a Republican for alderman from Ward 6. [21] In March, he was elected to a two-year term. [22] In April, he was again elected as president of the board of aldermen. [23]

Mayor of Burlington

In January 1935, Dow announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for mayor of Burlington. [24] In February, Dow won the nomination at the Burlington Republican Party's caucus with 589 votes, defeating fellow aldermen C. F. Robinson (208) and R. J. Bromley (132), who moved to make the nomination unanimous. [25]

In March, Dow defeated incumbent mayor James Edmund Burke by 222 votes, 3,143 to 2,921 and took office for a two-year term. [26] In 1937, Dow was the Republican nominee for mayor and was re-elected by defeating Burke, 3,617 to 2,177. [27] [28]

In February 1939, Dow was nominated by the Republican Party for a third term as mayor. [29] In March, he was defeated for re-election by the Democratic nominee, John J. Burns, 2,882-2,685. [30]

Later career

Dow continued his career in public relations and advertising. During World War II, he was head of public relations for Bell Aircraft. [1] Dow was later active in the financial services industry, and served as vice president of Edward E. Mathews, a Boston-based mutual funds specialist. [1] He subsequently served as head of the mutual funds department for A. M. Kidder and Co. in Burlington. [1]

Dow died in Burlington on February 18, 1964. [1] He was buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Burlington. [31]

Family

In 1922, Dow married Georgina Macaulay (1898-1987), a native of Canada. [32] They were married until his death and were the parents of a son, Louis Jr. [1]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Louis Dow Dies, Was Mayor Here". The Burlington Free Press . Burlington, VT. February 19, 1964. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ↑ "Close of Year at B.H.S." The Burlington Free Press . Burlington, VT. June 18, 1910. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "For 111th Year, Our University Gives Degrees". The Burlington Free Press . Burlington, VT. June 30, 1915. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Alumni Notes". The Vermont Cynic. Burlington, VT. March 4, 1916. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Alumni in Journalism". The Vermont Cynic. Burlington, VT. November 11, 1916. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "The Daily News". Burlington Daily News. Burlington, VT. October 15, 1917. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Personal Mention: Louis F. Dow". The Burlington Free Press . Burlington, VT. May 15, 1918. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ University of Vermont Notes. 14–16. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont. 1918. p. 15 – via Google Books.
  9. ↑ "Personal Mention: Louis F. Dow". The Burlington Free Press . Burlington, VT. September 2, 1918. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Sigma Phi: Louis F. Dow". The Vermont Cynic. Burlington, VT. February 1, 1919. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Hon. W. B. M'Killip Heads Republican Ticket for Mayor". Burlington Daily News. Burlington, VT. February 10, 1921. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "New Editor: Louis F. Dow to Have Charge of Alumni Weekly at University". The Burlington Free Press . Burlington, VT. September 6, 1922. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "University Notes". The Burlington Free Press . Burlington, VT. June 26, 1913. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ "Vt. Golf Champ at Local Club". Burlington Daily News. Burlington, VT. August 11, 1923. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "City Net Champs of 1915 and 1930 to Battle Today". The Burlington Free Press and Times . Burlington, VT. August 26, 1931. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ "Ten Stores Enter Window Display Contest". The Burlington Free Press . Burlington, VT. November 15, 1930. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ "Contest 5 Seats for Alderman Tomorrow". The Burlington Free Press . Burlington, VT. February 29, 1932. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ "Zoning Proposition Defeated by 91 Votes". The Burlington Free Press . Burlington, VT. March 2, 1932. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ "Aldermen Pick Louis F. Dow as President". Burlington Daily News. Burlington, VT. April 3, 1933. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ↑ "Louis F. Dow Is No Longer An Alderman". The Burlington Free Press . Burlington, VT. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ↑ "Dow Announces Candidacy In Novel Statement". The Burlington Free Press . Burlington, VT. February 9, 1934. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ↑ "Election results In Only One Change In Board of Aldermen". The Burlington Free Press . Burlington, VT. March 7, 1934. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ↑ "Louis F. Dow Again Chosen President of Board of Aldermen". Burlington Daily News. Burlington, VT. April 3, 1934. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ↑ "Alderman Dow Will Run for Mayor of City". Burlington Daily News. Burlington, VT. January 22, 1935. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ↑ "Dow to Oppose Burke". Barre Daily Times . Barre, VT. February 19, 1935. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ↑ "Louis F. Dow Elected Mayor by Majority of 222 over J. E. Burke". Burlington Daily News. Burlington, VT. March 6, 1935. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ↑ "Republican Club Officers Named". Burlington Daily News. Burlington, VT. February 13, 1937. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ↑ "Voters Give Louis F. Dow Another Term as Mayor of Burlington". The Burlington Free Press . Burlington, VT. March 3, 1937. p. 12 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ↑ "Dow to Carry G.O.P. Banner for Mayor". The Burlington Free Press . Burlington, VT. February 21, 1939. p. 8 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ↑ "Burns Beats Dow in Burlington". St. Albans Messenger . St. Albans, VT. March 8, 1939. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  31. ↑ "Vermont Death Records, 1909-2008, Entry for Louis Fenner Dow" . Ancestry.com. Lehi, UT: Ancestry.com, LLC. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  32. ↑ "Wife of Mayor is Naturalized". The Burlington Free Press . Burlington, VT. February 10, 1937. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
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