James Elliot "Porkey" McDowell

‘Porkey’ was born and raised in Huntington, WV. At a young age, he was curious about how things worked. He built things with his erector set and conducted science experiments in his home chemistry lab.

Building and flying his model airplanes was one of his hobbies. He was a proud member of the Douglass Wildcats High School Marching Band. He played both the trumpet and the cello. During his time in high school, he also excelled in academia, such as chemistry, physics, and math. However, during his senior year, unfortunately Douglass High School closed and he completed his high school education at Huntington High School.

While attending Marshall University, he was on the staff of the University’s newspaper, the Parthenon, as a photographer. He also served as a leader of a black activist group on campus and attended the March on Washington in 1963. He was instrumental in getting the flag lowered in frongof Old Main as a tribute to the slain Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

His leadership abilities were not lost on the city of Huntington. He was outspoken and very active in his community and neighborhood. He served as a past president of the local NAACP chapter. As an entrepreneur he created and owned the Booker T. Washington Construction Company and was a professional photographer.
During his late years he enjoyed painting, cooking, and reading until he passed away in 2021.