Major Owens
| Major Owens | |
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 11th district |
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In office January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Shirley Chisholm |
| Succeeded by | Yvette Clarke |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 12th district |
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In office January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1993 |
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| Preceded by | Edolphus Towns |
| Succeeded by | Nydia Velazquez |
| Member of the New York 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 |
June 28, 1936 Collierville, Tennessee |
| Died | October 21, 2013 (aged 77) New York City, New York |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) | Maria Cuprill |
| Alma mater |
Morehouse College Clark Atlanta University |
| Occupation | Librarian |
| Religion | Baptist |
Major Robert Odell Owens (June 28, 1936 – October 21, 2013) was a New York politician and a prominent member of the Democratic Party who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1983 to 2007, representing the state's 11th Congressional district. He retired at the end of his term in January 2007 and was succeeded by Yvette Clarke.
Major Owens (full name Major Robert Odell Owens) was born on June 28, 1936 in Collierville, Tennessee to Ezekiel and Edna Owens. Owens 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 in Atlanta, Georgia, and received a master's degree in library science in 1957 from Atlanta University, which is now known as Clark Atlanta.
Although commonly known as a politician, prior to his career in politics, Owens embarked on a career in librarianship. After obtaining his master's degree, Owens settled in Brooklyn, New York and began his career as a librarian at the Brooklyn Public Library from 1958 through the late 1960s. At the same time, Owens became active in the Congress of Racial Equality and other community groups. Owens, a community information librarian, became known for "placing Brooklyn Public Library collections in public places such as laundromats, stores, bars, and anywhere people gathered." In 1969, Owens worked with a group of other New York librarians, including Miriam Braverman, Anne Littlejohn, Betty-Carol Sellen, Joan Marshall, Hardy R. Franklin, Pat Schuman, Andrew Armitage, and Mitch Freedman, to establish the New York Social Responsibilities Round Table. This organization became part of the New York Library Association and its mission was "to create a central position for libraries and librarians in the battles for civil rights, social justice, peace, and ever-improved public access to education and information." 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. In 1996, Owens received the American Library Association's highest honor—honorary membership.
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