"Josh McDowell was born in Union City (Battle Creek), Michigan
in 1939 with the given name Joslin. He was one of five children
born to Wilmot McDowell (senior). His biographer, Joe Musser,
indicates that McDowell struggled with self-esteem issues in his
youth, as his father was an alcoholic and abusive. He enlisted in
the Air National Guard, received basic training and assumed duties
in mechanical maintenance of aircraft. After sustaining a head
injury he was discharged from the service.
He initially intended to pursue legal studies culminating in a
political career, and began preparatory studies at Kellogg College
in Michigan. As an atheist at college he decided to prepare a paper
that would examine the historical evidence of the Christian faith
in order to disprove it. However he converted to faith and
subsequently enrolled at Wheaton College, Illinois, where he was
awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_McDowell
