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Hon. Major Robert Odell Owens,
Member, U.S. House of Representatives
Democrat, 11th Congressional District, Brooklyn, NY
First elected to House:
November, 1982
Predecessor:
Hon. Shirley Chisholm
Birthdate:
June 28, 1936
Race:
African American
Zodiac Sign:
Cancer
Birthplace:
Memphis (Collierville), Tennessee
Parents:
Ezekiel and Hannah Owens
Siblings:
4 brothers, 3 sisters
High School:
Hamilton High School
College:
Morehouse College (Mathematics Major), 1956
Ford Foundation Scholarship
Classmates included Maynard Jackson, former Atlanta Mayor,
Don Clendenon, former NY Mets star, and
Rev. William Guy, Atlanta, father of actress Jasmine Guy
Owens met his future wife, Ethel Werfel, at Morehouse College.
Masters Degree from Atlanta University in Library Science, 1957
Profession:
Librarian
Note: Owens is the first professional
librarian to be elected either
to the NY State Legislature or the U.S. Congress.
Employment:
Brooklyn Public Library
Brownsville Community Council (Executive Director)
NYC Community Development Agency (Commissioner)
Columbia University (Adjunct Professor)
New York State Senate (1975-1982)
U.S. House of Representatives (1983-Present)
Activities:
Chair, Brooklyn Chapter,
Congress Of Racial Equality (1963-1966)
Vice President, Metropolitan Council on Housing (1963-1966)
Candidate, City Council of New York (1965)
Founding Member, Coalition for Community
Empowerment (1982)
Family:
Spouse - Maria Cuprill Owens
Children - Carlos Cuprill, Cecilia Cuprill
Previous Marriage - Ethel Werfel Owens
Children -
Chris Owens - President, Community School Board
13, Brooklyn, New York
Geoffrey Owens - Actor; "Elvin" on THE COSBY SHOW,
THE PAPER (Ron Howard)
Millard Owens - Community Activist and Economic
Development Specialist, Self-Help Credit Union, Raleigh, NC.
Made national news after being attacked
by Skinheads in Asheville, NC, in 1992.
Hobbies:
Writing political commentary, Owens is now known
as "The Rapping Congressman" who writes and presents
"Egghead Raps" both on the floor of the House and in
local venues in his District.