Son of James Edward and Rhoda M. Cowie; husband of Margaret Mary Cowie, of Saskatoon, SK. Brother of J. Merritt Cowie, Rhoda Tufts and Marion Cowie. Predeceased by his older sister, Rosalie Roberts, who died in 1943. Born in Neudorf, SK. Attended the University of Saskatchewan where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree and became a champion at track and other sports. Soon after graduating he became a teacher, and then moved on to become the Assistant Principal at the Mayfair School in Saskatoon.