"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