Early life McGowan was born in
Ashley, Pennsylvania, the third of five children. Bill was active in Ashley Boy Scouts and his troop which included his friends, Tim Klinges, Manus Cooney, Dave Cooney and George Frees, was one of the first group of Boy Scouts to go to Camp St. Andrew before it opened publicly in Tunkhannock, PA. Bill's brother, Monsignor Andrew J. McGowan eventually ran Camp St. Andrew. After graduating from Hanover High School Bill joined the
US Army and served as a medic for two and a half years. After an honorable discharge from the military he attended
King's College, Pennsylvania and received a degree in chemistry. He then attended
Harvard Business School, graduating in 1954 as a
Baker Scholar. In his role as chairman, McGowan raised capital for the growing company and set up fifteen of the seventeen regional carriers that would form the basis of MCI's initial communications network.
Personal life McGowan married
Sue Ling Gin, a Chicago entrepreneur, in a private ceremony in Virginia Beach on July 5, 1984. They decided to keep their marriage secret for a year as Sue Ling wanted credit for success in her own right and not as the wife of McGowan. On April 25, 1987, McGowan underwent a heart transplant at
UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Death On December 21, 1986, McGowan experienced a
heart attack. His medical problems resulted in his receiving a
heart transplant on April 25, 1987. ==Legacy==