Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Dowd received a Bachelor of Arts degree from College of Wooster in 1951 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School in 1954.

He was in the United States Army from 1955 to 1957 with the Judge Advocate General's Corps,[1] returning to private practice in Massillon from 1957 to 1975.

After active service in the army, he transferred to the reserves until he retired as major in 1970.

He was a Councilman-at-large for the City of Massillon in 1960, and an assistant prosecuting attorney of Stark County, Ohio from 1961 to 1967, and prosecuting attorney of Stark County, Ohio 1967 to 1975.

[2] On August 24, 1982, was nominated by President Ronald Reagan to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio vacated by Judge Leroy John Contie Jr. Dowd was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 22, 1982, and received his commission the following day, taking up a duty station with chambers in Akron.