He graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, studied law, and was admitted to the bar.

In 1936 Utterback gave up a chance at re-election to his House seat, choosing instead to run for the U.S. Senate, but was defeated in the Democratic Primary by Iowa Governor Clyde L. Herring.

Two years later, in 1938, Utterback tried unsuccessfully to win back his House seat, but Dowell easily won the rematch.

The district would not send another Democrat to Congress until 1956, when Merwin Coad defeated James I. Dolliver by 198 votes, in one of Iowa's closest Congressional elections.

This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress