Edolphus Towns
| Edolphus Towns | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 10th district |
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In office January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Charles Schumer |
| Succeeded by | Jerrold Nadler |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 11th district |
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In office January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1993 |
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| Preceded by | James H. Scheuer |
| Succeeded by | Major Owens |
| Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee | |
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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(s) | Gwen Forbes |
| Children |
Darryl Towns Deidra Towns |
| Residence | Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Alma mater |
North Carolina A&T State University Adelphi University |
| Occupation | Social worker |
| Religion | Baptist |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 United States
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| Service/branch |
 United States Army
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| Years of service | 1956–1958 |
Edolphus "Ed" Towns, Jr. (born July 21, 1934) is an American politician who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1983 to 2013. A Democrat from New York, Towns was Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee from 2009 to 2011.
During his 30 years in Congress, Towns represented districts based in Brooklyn: first New York's 11th congressional district, from 1983 to 1993, and then the 10th district from 1993 to 2013. On April 16, 2012, Towns announced he would be retiring at the end of his 15th term.
Towns was born in Chadbourn, North Carolina, the son of Versie (née Brown) and Edolphus Towns. He earned his bachelor's degree from North Carolina A&T State University and a master's degree in social work from Adelphi University.
Towns worked as an administrator at Beth Israel Medical Center, a professor at New York's Medgar Evers College and Fordham University and a public school teacher, teaching orientation and mobility to blind students. He is also a veteran of the United States Army and an ordained Baptist minister. In 1970, he ran for New York Assembly District 38, and was defeated in the Democratic primary by John Mullally, 75%-25%. In 1972, he ran in District 40 and was defeated in the Democratic primary by Edward Griffith, who won the primary with a plurality of 37%.
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