Sadowski was born in Detroit in a Polish-American family where he attended Ferry School. He attended high school in Foley, Alabama, and then returned to Detroit, where he graduated from Northeastern High School in 1920 and from the law department of the University of Detroit in 1924. He was admitted to the bar in 1926 and commenced practice in Detroit. He was involved in the real estate and building businesses and later became the owner of two golf clubs. He was also a member of Polish National Alliance.