Major Owens
Major Owens | |
---|---|
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York | |
In office January 3, 1983 – January 3, 2007 | |
Preceded by | Shirley Chisholm |
Succeeded by | Yvette Clarke |
Constituency | 12th district (1983–93) 11th district (1993–2007) |
Member of the New York State Senate from the 17th district | |
In office January 1, 1975 – December 31, 1982 | |
Preceded by | Chester J. Straub |
Succeeded by | Howard E. Babbush |
Personal details | |
Born | Major Robert Odell Owens June 28, 1936 Collierville, Tennessee, U.S. |
Died | October 21, 2013 New York City, New York, U.S. | (aged 77)
Political party | Democratic |
Other political affiliations | Democratic Socialists of America |
Spouse(s) | Ethel Werfel Maria Cuprill |
Children | 5, including Geoffrey |
Alma mater | Morehouse College (BA) Clark Atlanta University (MS) |
Occupation | Librarian |
Major Robert Odell Owens (June 28, 1936 – October 21, 2013) was an American politician and librarian who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1983 to 2007, representing the New York's 11th and then 12th congressional district. He was first elected to replace retiring Representative Shirley Chisholm. Owens shepherded the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 through the House. He retired at the end of his term in January 2007 and was succeeded by Yvette Clarke.
Early life and education
Owens was born on June 28, 1936, in Collierville, Tennessee, to Ezekiel and Edna Owens.[1] He was raised in Memphis, Tennessee, and his father worked in a furniture factory as a laborer. He received a bachelor's degree in 1956 from Morehouse College, and a master's degree in library science in 1957 from Atlanta University, now known as Clark Atlanta.[2]
Career
Librarian
Owens began his career in
Although having moved from his career in librarianship into his political career, in 1979 and 1991, Owens was a featured speaker at the White House Conference on Libraries sponsored by the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science. In 1987, Owens was awarded the American Library Association Honorary Membership, its highest honor.[4]
Politics
In 1968, New York City Mayor John Lindsay made Owens the commissioner of New York City's Community Development Agency.[5] After serving in this position for approximately five years, successfully ran for and was elected to the New York Senate. He was a member of the New York State Senate from 1975 to 1982, sitting in the 181st, 182nd, 183rd and 184th New York State Legislatures.[6]
In 1982, he was elected to the
Owens represented a diverse district located within
Owens was one of 31 House Democrats who voted to not count the 20
He was a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. He received an "A" on the Drum Major Institute's 2005 Congressional Scorecard on middle-class issues.[11][12]
Later career
In 2006, Owens decided to not pursue re-election and retired from Congress, thereby ending his political career. Owens indicated that he wanted to spend his time writing novels and poetry. In 2006 after Owens's retirement decision, the Librarian of Congress announced that Owens would be appointed as a distinguished visiting scholar at the John W. Kluge Center with the position to commence in January 2007. During his time at the John W. Kluge Center, Owens's work focused "on a case study of the Congressional Black Caucus and its impact on national politics."[13] Owens used his time at the Kluge Center to research and write his book The Peacock Elite: A Subjective Case Study of the Congressional Black Caucus and Its Impact on National Politics, which was published in 2011.[14] Owens served as a senior fellow for the DuBois-Bunche Center for Public Policy at Medgar Evers College.[15]
Personal life
Owens was married twice. His first marriage to Ethel Werfel ended in divorce after twenty-five years. From his marriage to Ethel, Owens had three sons: Brooklyn politician Chris Owens, actor Geoffrey Owens (best known for playing "Elvin" on The Cosby Show), and Millard Owens. He then married Maria A. Cuprill (Maria Owens), and the couple had two children.[2]
Owens died October 21, 2013, in New York City of congestive heart failure. He was 77.[16]
See also
References
- ^ "Major Owens Remembered". The eBulletin. New York Library Association. Archived from the original on September 23, 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
- ^ a b Bernstein, Adam (24 October 2013). "Major Owens: Librarian, politician and author". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 16, 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
- ^ Berry, John (3 December 2013). "Major Owens: Years in politics but always a librarian". Library Journal. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
- ^ a b "2013-2014 ALA Memorial #2 - Memorial Resolution for Major Owens" (PDF). ALA. American Library Association. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
- ^ "Former Brooklyn Congressman Major Owens dies aged 77". NY Daily News. 22 October 2013. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
- ^ "Featured African Americans" profile, Library of Congress (loc.gov)
- ^ Byzek, Josie. "Major SAYS: An interview with Rep. Major Owens". Mouth Magazine. No. September/October 1999. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
- ^ NYC Board of Elections. "Primary Election Kings" (PDF). vote.nyc.ny.us/html/results/2004_previous.shtml. Retrieved April 20, 2013.
- ^ "Final vote results for roll call 007". clerk.house.gov. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
- ^ "Drummajorinstitute.com". Drum Major Institute for Public Policy. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
- ^ "Congress at the Midterm: Their 2005 Middle Class Record" (PDF). Drum Major Institute for Public Policy. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 December 2006. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
- ^ "US Congressman Major Owens Named Distinguished Visiting Scholar at John W. Kluge Center". Library of Congress. 26 December 2006. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
- ^ "Hon. Major R. Owens". Library of Congress. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
- ^ "DuBois Bunche Center for Public Policy: Faculty". Medgar Evers College. Archived from the original on 28 November 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
- ^ "Former Brooklyn Congressman Major Owens dies aged 77". NY Daily News. 22 October 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
External links
- United States Congress. "Major Owens (id: O000159)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Education Mobilization by Rep. Major Owens
- Voting record, Washington Post
- Appearances on C-SPAN