I have learned, that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.
Henry David Thoreau
Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.
Robert F. Kennedy
Andrew J. McGowan: My Brother Bill
Kitch Loftus-Mussari
Tony Mussari
In the third part of our series on the late Msgr. Andrew J. McGowan, we see a side of the man not visible in his public role as a priest, toastmaster and humorist.
Before any of that, Andrew J. McGowan was a brother, and that role was central to who he was, what he believed
and how he conducted himself throughout his life.
It is obvious that McGowan loved his brother Bill. It is even more obvious that he admired his character, his intelligence, and his vision.
Throughout the interview he candidly expressed his feelings about him: “He was a remarkable brother… we talked two or three times a week… I was fortunate to have a brother like Bill… why I had no ecclesiastical ambition was basically the fact that I had a brother like Bill.”
McGowan talks about their early years in Ashley, Pennsylvania, their jobs on the railroad, his brother’s career path that led him to develop an alternative to the communications giant AT&T and the formation of his company, MCI.
During his visit to Windsor Park, Msgr. McGowan shared insights into Bill McGowan’s personality, business philosophy and what he thought made him the success he was in the business world.
Bill McGowan was not an arrogant man. He was not an insensitive man. He was not a selfish man.
Bill McGowan cared about people, and he was loyal to those who helped him. He was a man you could trust, and he was a good citizen.
According to Msgr. McGowan, his younger brother, Bill, had a genius with people. “ He made the people feel that he was close to them, he understood them, he’s supportive of them.” He respected his employees and he treated them well, said Msgr. McGowan.
McGowan went on to say his brother felt an obligation to his employees, and he learned that respect at the kitchen table in the red brick house on Green Street in Ashley, PA.
According to Msgr. McGowan, his brother was “… brought up that way.” He believed: “that’s the way you have to act.”
Today, long after his death, Bill McGowan’s charitable acts continue to serve thousands of people and institutions through the generosity of the McGowan Charitable Trust. The legacy of the man who transformed the 
communications industry lives on in meaningful and decent ways and there never has been a question about his character or his motives.
Msgr. McGowan's portrait of his brother is a perfect illustration of why character counts. It gave him strength and a sense of confidence.
What a wonderful example for young people during Character Counts Week and, for that matter, every other week of the year.
In every respect Bill McGowan was a remarkable brother and a remarkable American. Would that there would bemore brothers like the Brothers McGowan who, in their lifetimes, brought character, integrity, honesty, service, dignity and class to everything they did.
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