Edolphus Towns facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edolphus Towns
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York |
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| In office January 3, 1983 – January 3, 2013 |
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| Preceded by | James H. Scheuer |
| Succeeded by | Hakeem Jeffries (redistricting) |
| Constituency |
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| Chair of the House Oversight Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2011 |
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| Preceded by | Henry Waxman |
| Succeeded by | Darrell Issa |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Edolphus Towns Jr.
July 21, 1934 Chadbourn, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Gwen Forbes |
| Children | 2, including Darryl |
| Education | North Carolina A&T State University (BS) Adelphi University (MSW) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1956–1958 |
Edolphus "Ed" Towns Jr. (born July 21, 1934) is an American educator, military veteran, and politician. He served in the United States House of Representatives for 30 years. He was a member of the Democratic Party from New York. From 2009 to 2011, he was the Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
During his time in Congress, Edolphus Towns represented areas in Brooklyn. He first represented the 11th district from 1983 to 1993. Then, he represented the 10th district from 1993 to 2013.
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Early Life and Career
Edolphus Towns was born in Chadbourn, North Carolina. He graduated from West Side High School in 1952. He earned a bachelor's degree in sociology in 1956. Later, he received a master's degree in social work in 1973.
Before becoming a politician, Towns worked in several important roles. He was an administrator at Beth Israel Medical Center. He also taught as a professor at Medgar Evers College and Fordham University. He was a public school teacher for students who were blind. From 1956 to 1958, he served in the United States Army. He is also an ordained Baptist minister.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
Becoming a Representative
After some changes to district boundaries, Towns ran for an open seat in Brooklyn. He won the Democratic primary election. Then, he won the general election with a large majority of the votes. He was very popular in his district. He won most of his general elections with over 85% of the vote.
He faced challenges in some primary elections. For example, in 1998, he won with 55% of the vote. In 2000, he won a rematch with 57% of the vote. In 2006, he won a primary with 47% of the vote. This was his closest primary election. In 2008, he won another primary with 69% of the vote.
Key Work in Congress
Towns was a member of the United States House Committee on Energy and Commerce. He was also part of the Congressional Black Caucus. In 2009, he proposed a law to make information about presidential donors public.
He helped create several important federal laws. One was the Student Right To Know Act. This law required colleges to report how many student athletes graduated. He also helped create the Telecommunications Development Fund. This fund helps minority-owned businesses get capital. He also worked to develop a federal program for poison control centers.
Towns focused on helping communities in Brooklyn that needed support. The National Audubon Society recognized him for helping get federal money. This money was used to restore Prospect Park. He also pushed for the Environmental Protection Agency to test air quality. This was done in neighborhoods outside of Manhattan after the September 11 attacks.
In 2010, Towns decided not to seek a leadership role on the Oversight Committee. He had been the chairman before. He retired from Congress in 2012. He had served 15 terms.
Committee Roles
During his time in Congress, Edolphus Towns served on important committees:
- Committee on Energy and Commerce
- Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade
- Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
- Subcommittee on Health
- Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
- Subcommittee on Government Organization, Efficiency and Financial Management (Ranking Member)
Group Memberships
He was also a member of several important groups in Congress:
- Congressional Black Caucus
- House Democratic Caucus
- Congressional COPD Caucus
- International Conservation Caucus
- Congressional Arts Caucus
After Congress
After leaving Congress, Towns became a senior advisor. He worked for a firm that helps with government relations.
Personal Life
Edolphus Towns is married to Gwendolyn Forbes. They live in the Cypress Hills area of Brooklyn. They have two children, Darryl and Deidra. Darryl also served in the New York State Assembly.
See also
