Rate My Professor Charles McDowell

Charles T. McDowell served as Professor Emeritus in History at the University of Texas at Arlington, where he made enduring contributions to academia and global studies over more than four decades. Born on November 23, 1921, in San Saba, Texas, he earned a B.S. from Texas A&M University in 1943, an M.A. from Columbia University in 1953, and a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University in 1956. Additionally, he graduated from the Armed Forces Staff College, the Defense Language Institute's Foreign Area Specialist Program, and a two-year doctoral-level Soviet-East Europe Advanced Foreign Area Studies Program. McDowell's distinguished military career spanned World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, during which he rose to the rank of colonel. Commissioned as a second lieutenant after Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia, he served with the 82nd and 11th Airborne Divisions, participating in Operation Market Garden, and later commanded battalions in Europe. He taught at Tokyo Army College as professor, director, and commandant from 1946 to 1948, instructed U.S. forces on nuclear weapons across Asia, and served as an intelligence officer with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, evaluating foreign threats and holding custody of the presidential 'nuclear football.' As a master parachutist and Foreign Service Officer, he operated in the Soviet Union, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, earning decorations including the Bronze Star Medal and Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf clusters, Combat Infantryman Badge, and commendations from General William C. Westmoreland.

Joining the University of Texas at Arlington in 1959 as Assistant Professor of Military Science and Tactics, McDowell advanced to Assistant to the President in 1966 and Dean of Student Life from 1967 to 1969. He chaired the Department of Foreign Languages and Linguistics, founded and directed the Center for Post-Soviet and East European Studies from 1968 to 1990, and became the first Chair of the Faculty Senate, reelected six times. A dedicated teacher of Russian language, history, economics, geography, and political science, he earned the AMOCO Award for Outstanding Teaching (predecessor to the Chancellor's Council Award), Best Academic Advisor, and Best Advisor of Student Organizations awards, plus four Piper Award nominations. McDowell led annual summer study abroad programs in Russia, hosted scholars and politicians including Boris Yeltsin, served as national IREX representative for post-doctoral scholars, and authored numerous articles, books, and translations on the Soviet Union. Inducted into UTA's Military Science Hall of Honor, his legacy endures through the Charles T. McDowell Center for Global Studies, endowed in 2010. He passed away on July 8, 2007.