Major Owens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Major Owens
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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, 2007 |
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| 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 |
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| In office January 1, 1975 – December 31, 1982 |
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| 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 (aged 77) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Other political affiliations |
Democratic Socialists of America |
| Spouses | Ethel Werfel Maria Cuprill |
| Children | 5, including Geoffrey |
| Alma mater | Morehouse College (BA) Clark Atlanta University (MS) |
| Occupation | Librarian |
Major Robert Odell Owens (born June 28, 1936 – died October 21, 2013) was an important American politician and a librarian. He served in the United States House of Representatives, which is part of the U.S. Congress, from 1983 to 2007. He represented parts of New York City, specifically Brooklyn.
Owens was known for helping pass the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. This important law helps protect the rights of people with disabilities. He took over from Shirley Chisholm, who was the first African-American woman elected to Congress. After many years, Owens retired in 2007 and Yvette Clarke took his place.
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Early Life and Education
Major Owens was born on June 28, 1936, in Collierville, Tennessee. His parents were Ezekiel and Edna Owens. He grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. His father worked hard in a furniture factory.
Owens was a great student. He earned his first college degree in 1956 from Morehouse College. Then, in 1957, he received a master's degree in library science from Atlanta University. This school is now called Clark Atlanta University.
Career Highlights
A Librarian in Brooklyn
After finishing his studies, Owens moved to Brooklyn, New York. He started his career as a librarian at the Brooklyn Public Library in 1958. He worked there through the 1960s.
During this time, Owens also became very active in the Congress of Racial Equality. This group worked for civil rights. He was known for putting library books in places like laundromats and stores. He wanted to make sure everyone could easily find books and information.
In 1969, Owens and other librarians started a group called the New York Social Responsibilities Round Table. This group wanted libraries to play a big role in fighting for civil rights and social justice. They also wanted to make sure everyone had good access to education.
Even after he became a politician, Owens continued to support libraries. He was a special speaker at White House conferences about libraries in 1979 and 1991. In 1996, the American Library Association gave him their highest award.
From City Official to State Senator
In 1968, the mayor of New York City, John Lindsay, chose Owens to lead the city's Community Development Agency. Owens worked in this role for about five years.
After that, he decided to run for political office himself. He was elected to the New York State Senate and served there from 1975 to 1982. This was his first big step into politics.
Serving in Congress
In 1982, Major Owens was elected to the United States House of Representatives. He took the place of Shirley Chisholm, who was retiring. He stayed in Congress until he retired in 2006. People often called him "The Librarian In Congress."
In Congress, Owens was a strong supporter of libraries and education. He worked hard to get funding for public libraries and school libraries. He also cared deeply about people with disabilities. He worked closely with activist Justin Whitlock Dart.
Owens played a key role in passing the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). This law made it illegal to discriminate against people with disabilities. It helped make sure they had equal opportunities.
Owens represented a very diverse area of Brooklyn. It included many different communities, like African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, and Jewish Americans. He was re-elected many times because he worked hard for all the people in his district. In 2006, he decided to retire. Yvette Clarke won the election to take his place.
Later Years and Legacy
After leaving Congress in 2007, Owens wanted to focus on writing. He planned to write novels and poetry. The Librarian of Congress invited him to be a visiting scholar at The John W. Kluge Center.
There, Owens studied the Congressional Black Caucus. This is a group of African-American members of Congress. He wrote a book about them called "The Peacock Elite." He also served as a senior fellow at Medgar Evers College.
Personal Life
Major Owens was married twice. His first marriage was to Ethel Werfel, and they had three sons: Chris, Geoffrey Owens, and Millard. Geoffrey Owens is an actor, known for his role on The Cosby Show. Later, Major Owens married Maria A. Cuprill, and they had two children together.
Major Owens passed away on October 21, 2013, in New York City. He was 77 years old.
See also
