Burgess Owens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Burgess Owens
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Utah's 4th district |
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| Assumed office January 3, 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Ben McAdams | ||||||
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| Born |
Clarence Burgess Owens
August 2, 1951 Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
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| Political party | Republican | ||||||
| Spouse |
Josie Owens
(m. 1978; div. 2012) |
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| Children | 6 | ||||||
| Residences | Herriman, Utah, U.S. | ||||||
| Education | University of Miami (BS) | ||||||
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Football career |
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| No. 22, 44 | |||||||
| Position: | Safety | ||||||
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| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 199 lb (90 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Rickards (Tallahassee, Florida) | ||||||
| College: | Miami (FL) | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1973 / Round: 1 / Pick: 13 | ||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||
Clarence Burgess Owens (born August 2, 1951) is an American politician and former professional football player. He currently serves as a U.S. representative for Utah's 4th congressional district since 2021. Before becoming a politician, he played as a safety for 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the New York Jets and the Oakland Raiders, winning a championship with the Raiders in Super Bowl XV in 1980. After his football career, Owens started several businesses. He also leads a non-profit group that helps young people who are facing challenges. He is a member of the Republican party.
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Early Life and Education
Burgess Owens was born in Columbus, Ohio. His family later moved to Tallahassee, Florida, where his father worked as a college professor. Owens grew up in a Baptist home.
He graduated from Rickards High School in Tallahassee in 1969. He was one of the first African-American players to join the football team at this historically white high school. Owens was also one of the first Black athletes to receive a scholarship to play football at the University of Miami.
He earned a college degree in Biology and Chemistry from the University of Miami.
Football Career Highlights
During his college football career, Owens was named a First-team All-American defensive back. He was also chosen as the Most Valuable Defensive Player in the North–South All Star Game. In 1980, he was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall Of Fame.
The New York Jets picked Owens as the 13th player in the first round of the 1973 NFL draft. In his first year, he scored a touchdown by returning a kickoff 82 yards. This was the only kickoff return touchdown for the Jets during the 1970s. He played regularly for the Jets for most of the 1970s. Later, he joined the Oakland Raiders and helped them win Super Bowl XV in 1980.
Life After Football
After retiring from professional football, Owens moved to New York City in 1983. He started a business with his brother, but it did not succeed. He later worked as a chimney sweep and a security guard.
He then moved to Philadelphia and worked in sales for companies like WordPerfect, Sprint, and Motorola. From 2009 to 2013, he owned his own business called Pure and Simple Solutions.
Owens is also a founder and CEO of Second Chance 4 Youth. This non-profit organization, started in 2019, helps young people who have been in trouble or in jail. He has also appeared as a guest on Fox News.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
Becoming a Representative
2020 Election
In November 2019, Burgess Owens announced he would run for the U.S. House of Representatives. He wanted to represent Utah's 4th congressional district. He won the Republican primary election in June 2020.
Owens then faced the current Democratic representative, Ben McAdams, in the main election. After a close race, Owens won the election in November 2020. He became one of four African-American Republicans in the House of Representatives.
2022 Election
Owens won his Republican primary election again in 2022. He then won the general election, defeating his Democratic and United Utah Party opponents.
What He Does in Congress
As a U.S. Representative, Owens is part of a group called the "Freedom Force." This group includes Republican members of the House who want to challenge certain political ideas.
In 2021, Owens voted on the results of the 2020 presidential election. He supported challenging the votes from Pennsylvania but not from Arizona. He also opposed a bill called the "For the People Act," which aimed to change election laws.
Owens also supported the "Fairness for All Act." This bill would protect people from discrimination based on their sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity. It also aims to protect religious freedom.
His Committee Roles
Owens serves on important committees in the House of Representatives:
- Committee on Education and Labor
- Committee on the Judiciary
Groups He Belongs To
He is also a member of the Republican Study Committee.
Political Ideas
Owens has described his political views as "very conservative." He has spoken about his support for former President Donald Trump. He has also shared his thoughts on various topics, including:
Healthcare
Owens believes that healthcare coverage for people with existing health conditions should be protected.
Economy
Owens thinks that the country needs to reduce business rules and cut taxes to help the economy grow. He also does not support increasing the minimum wage. He believes it is important for the Republican Party to lead to prevent what he calls "socialist" policies.
Marriage Rights
In 2022, Owens voted in favor of the Respect for Marriage Act. This law helps protect the right to same-sex marriage across the country.
Big Tech
Owens voted for a bill in 2022 that aims to prevent large technology companies from acting unfairly in the market.
Personal Life
Burgess Owens was married to Josie for 34 years, and they have six children. His eldest child is Summur-Rayn.
He is a survivor of prostate cancer.
Owens is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He joined the Church in 1982, during his last season playing for the Oakland Raiders. He often speaks publicly about his faith.
Books He Has Written
- It's All About Team: Exposing the Black Talented Tenth, 2012.
- Liberalism or How to Turn Good Men into Whiners, Weenies and Wimps, 2016.
- Why I Stand: From Freedom to the Killing Fields of Socialism, 2018.
See Also
- Black conservatism in the United States
- List of African-American United States representatives
- List of American sportsperson-politicians
