"He loved working for the city and telling everybody that's where he worked," said LaTaisha Campbell, a close family friend. "He wore the shirt almost every day, even when he didn't have to go to work."
He works as a temporary employee in the City of Houston Public Works fleet department. He was on his way into work during the height of Harvey the weekend before last. His loved ones say his route started to flood.
"He made a phone call to his supervisor about one in the morning and said he had ran into high water, and he was going to try to find another route," Campbell said.
That was a week and a half ago. They haven't heard from him since.
City employee disappears without a trace during Harvey
Joseph has had a long journey to get to where he is today. He's served time behind bars, went through a recidivism program and got his dream job.
"He called me on the phone every day, praying on the phone, 'Sis, I'm going to get. I'm going to get it. I'm going to show this world a convict can turn his life around,'" Dowell's sister, LaCherrie Delahoussaye, said.
He's active in his church, involved in programs to help young boys and determined to pay it forward.
It's all part of an effort to make sure his journey in life helps others.
"When he came out, he was ready to move forward and help people and just do the right thing," Delahoussaye said.
Dowell was driving a white Toyota Corolla. It was found on Monday at Wayside and Texarkana.
If you have any information, you're asked to the Houston Police Department's Missing Person's Unit at 832-394-1840.
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