Oliver W. Dorr, secretary of the Dorr & Zeller Catering Company of St. Louis, is a native of the city in which he makes his home, his birth having here occurred February 10, 1890. His parents are Lawrence E. and Rose (Stein) Dorr. The father was born in Germany in 1867 and came to this country in 1882. He established the business conducted under the name of the Dorr & Zeller Catering Company, beginning in a small way and gradually developing the enterprise until he is now at the head of one of the prominent catering interests of the city as its president. The nature and breadth of his interests are indicated in the fact that he is a member of the Zoological Society, of the Missouri Historical Society and of the Chamber of Commerce, cooperating in all of the plans and purposes of the latter organization to upbuild St. Louis. His religious faith is that of the Catholic church, and he is connected with the Knights of Columbus. His wife was born in St. Louis in 1870, and they were married March 21, 1886. They have become the parents of three sons, Victor L., Oliver W. and Roy H.
The second son, Oliver W. Dorr, attended the St. Nicholas school at Eighteenth street and Lucas avenue and was graduated from the St. Louis University in 1910. In the following year he became connected with the Dorr & Zeller Catering Company and throughout his entire business career has been active with this firm. He first served as clerk and in 1917 was elected secretary of the company, which today controls one of the largest business interests of the kind in the west. They have various establishments, in all of which the highest standard of catering service is maintained.
On the 10th of February, 1916, in St. Rose’s church of St. Louis, Mr. Dorr was married to Miss Edith A. Bowlin, a daughter of Lawrence A. and Mary E. Bowlin, aged respectively sixty-four and fifty-eight years. Her father is a retired capitalist who came from Ireland to the new world when quite young and for about sixty years has made his home in St. Louis, in which city his wife was born. They have had two sons, John M. and William K. Bowlin, who served throughout the entire World war after America became identified with the Allies in the effort to crush out the militarism which Germany would have extended over the world. They were on active duty in France. William K., serving with the Fifth Regiment of Infantry as sergeant, made the supreme sacrifice in September, 1918. John M. was a first lieutenant of the United States regular army and was honorably discharged after the cessation of hostilities. To Mr. and Mrs. Dorr have been born two daughters and a son, Jane, Dorothy and William.
The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church, and Mr. Dorr is identified with the Knights of Columbus as a fourth degree member, which is the highest degree in the order. In politics he is a stanch republican and socially is connected with the Automobile Club. He has attractive social qualities which make for popularity among his many friends, the number of whom is constantly increasing as the circle of his acquaintance widens.