Orval Henry McGowen was born on Nov. 10, 1907 in Texas County, Missouri. He was a son of Robert Henry McGowen and his second wife Mary Belle Baney McGowen. Orval was married in Houston, Missouri to Florence Elizabeth Ragsdale on Feb. 1, 1930. She was born on Mar. 20, 1912 at Bado, Missouri, the daughter of Henry and Mina Corban Ragsdale. They were members of the Fowler Pentecost Holiness Church.

Dennis Prock writes about his grandfather: "Orval was a small man, about 5' 4" tall. He worked in a Coal Mine in Joplin, Missouri when he was about 19 years old. During the 1930's, he was a Deputy Sheriff of Texas County for four years. He also farmed for many years, raised sheep, cattle and chickens. While he was Deputy Sheriff, he never wore a uniform, just a badge. Once Orval and a cousin were by the side of the road, talking and joking. Suddenly, a fantastic looking automobile drove up beside them. Inside was seated four men dressed in blue serge suits and brim hats. It was strange to them seeing these characters out here driving around on a red gravel dirt road. When the car stopped beside Orval and his cousin, one man stepped out of the car and asked if this road goes to Cabool, Missouri. Orval pointed down the road and told the stranger how many miles it was to Cabool. Orval looked them over good because the stranger said they were from Chicago, Illinois. One man in the car looked familiar, but he couldn't picture who he was at that time. The stranger thanked Orval, got back in the car and drove off, disappearing down the dusty red road. A few days later Orval was back at duty on his job as Deputy. He was looking over some mug shots of known criminals when he remembered the four men in that fantastic car. The more he checked he realized that the man inside of the car who hadn't said a word was none other than John Dillinger, Public Enemy Number One! Orval wondered for years why these gangsters were traveling around Texas County. Orval died on April 15, 1976, at Mountain Grove in Wright County and was buried at Hillcrest Cemetery.

McGowan Family History