Elected in April 2007, Bob McDowell is serving his first term as alderman from Ward 1 that encompasses northwest Branson.  His 30-year career as an entrepreneur transformed Ride The Ducks into the premiere amphibious sightseeing operation in the United States.  He sold the company in 2004 to Herschend Family Entertainment. While operating Ride the Ducks, McDowell designed and developed a new state-of-the-art Duck vehicle that exceeded the safety standards set forth by the U.S. Coast Guard and the Missouri Department of Motor Vehicles. McDowell has also developed concepts, built and operated a hotel, restaurant, gift shops, concessions and souvenir photo lab.

His community involved has included: board of directors of a local bank; president of the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors plus several Chamber committees; Lives Under Construction Board of Directors and the Boys and Girls Club of the Ozarks Board of Directors.

The local chamber of commerce presented McDowell with the Humanitarian Award named in his honor, for his leading a team of rescue workers who assisted Hurricane Katrina victims utilizing amphibious vehicles.