Robert Wagner Dowling Explained

Robert Wagner Dowling
Birth Place:Camrose, Alberta
Death Place:Jasper, Alberta
Residence:Jasper, Alberta
Office:Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
Term Start:1969
Term End:1979
Constituency:Edson
Predecessor:William Switzer
Successor:Ian Reid
Office1:Minister without portfolio responsible for Tourism
Term Start1:September 10, 1971
Term End1:1974
Predecessor1:Raymond Ratzlaff
Office2:Minister of Consumer Affairs
Term Start2:1974
Term End2:March 1975
Successor2:Graham Harle
Office3:Minister of Business Development and Tourism
Term Start3:March 1975
Term End3:March 1979
Successor3:Al Adair
Party:Progressive Conservative
Spouse:Olga Louise Yewchin
Occupation:pharmacist, politician
Branch:Royal Canadian Air Force
Allegiance:Canada
Serviceyears:1942 - 1945

Robert Wagner Dowling (September 28, 1924 – March 4, 2019) was a provincial-level politician from Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1969 to 1979 sitting as a member of the Progressive Conservative caucus. During his time in office he served a few different Cabinet portfolios in the government of Premier Peter Lougheed.

Early life

Robert Wagner Dowling was born in Camrose, Alberta on September 28, 1924.[1] He was the son of Harold James Dowling and Emma Maude Wagner, and was educated in Camrose, at the University of British Columbia and at the University of Alberta. In 1952, he married Olga Louise Yewchin. Dowling served in the Royal Canadian Air Force from 1942 to 1945. Before entering politics, he was a pharmacist[1] and owned three drug stores and a patent medicine store.[2]

Political career

Dowling ran for a seat to the Alberta Legislature in a by-election held on October 28, 1969 in the electoral district of Edson. He won a hotly contested race defeating three other candidates including NDP leader Grant Notley to pick up the electoral district of the Progressive Conservative party who formed the official opposition at the time.[3]

Dowling ran for a second term in office a couple years later in the 1971 Alberta general election, which saw the Progressive Conservatives come to power. He substantially increased his majority and was easily re-elected defeating two other candidates.[4] After the election, new Premier Peter Lougheed appointed Dowling to his first cabinet as a Minister without portfolio responsible for Tourism. He was shuffled to another portfolio in the middle of his term and became the Minister of Consumer Affairs.

Dowling ran for a third term in the 1975 Alberta general election, his first time standing for re-election with ministerial advantage. His popular vote dropped slightly, but he was re-elected easily as the opposition vote collapsed.[5]

After the election he was shuffled to a similar cabinet post as the first one he served. He became the Minister of Business Development and Tourism. He held that portfolio until he retired from provincial politics at dissolution of the assembly in 1979.

In 2000 Dowling was awarded the Alberta Centennial Medal.[6] Dowling died in March 2019 at the age of 94.[7]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Normandin, P. G. Canadian Parliamentary Companion, 1961 . 1961 .
  2. Web site: Robert Dowling fonds . Archives Canada . December 11, 2009 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110725185442/http://www.archivescanada.ca/english/search/ItemDisplay.asp?sessionKey=999999999_142&l=0&lvl=1&v=0&coll=0&itm=222939&rt=1&bill=1 . July 25, 2011 .
  3. Web site: By-elections 1905-1973. Elections Alberta. December 3, 2009. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090607094042/http://www.elections.ab.ca/Public%20Website/742.htm#1905-1973. June 7, 2009.
  4. Web site: Edson results 1971. Alberta Heritage Community Foundation . December 3, 2009.
  5. Web site: Edson results 1975. Alberta Heritage Community Foundation . December 3, 2009.
  6. Web site: Centennial Recipients (Fairview - Zama). Government of Alberta. December 3, 2009. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110527134540/http://www.albertacentennial.ca/programs/medal_comm_3.html. May 27, 2011.
  7. http://edmontonjournal.remembering.ca/obituary/robert-dowling-1073146440 Robert DOWLING obituary