- Major Owens
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Major Owens Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 11th districtIn office
1983–2007Preceded by Shirley Chisholm Succeeded by Yvette Clarke Personal details Born June 28, 1936
Collierville, TennesseePolitical party Democratic Spouse(s) Maria Cuprill Residence Brooklyn, New York City, New York Alma mater Morehouse College, Atlanta University Occupation librarian Religion Baptist Major Robert Odell Owens (born June 28, 1936) is a New York politician and a prominent member of the Democratic Party. He is also a former Congressman, having represented the state's 11th Congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. He retired at the end of his term in January 2007 and was succeeded by Yvette Clarke.
Owens was born in Collierville, Tennessee. He has a bachelor's degree from Morehouse College and a master of science degree from Atlanta University. Owens was a librarian before entering politics. He was elected to the New York state Senate in 1974 as a Democrat.[1]
In 1982, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, replacing the retiring Shirley Chisholm. One of his achievements in the House was the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Owens represented a very diverse district located within Brooklyn, New York. His district included low income areas of Brownsville, a large Hasidic area of Crown Heights, the heavily Caribbean areas of Flatbush and East Flatbush, and the upscale neighborhood of Park Slope.
Although Owens won the Democratic primary with just 45% of the vote, he was re-elected in 2004 with 94% of the vote. He retired from the House at the end of his term in January 2007. Due to the extreme Democratic lean of his district, there was little surprise that he would be replaced by another Democrat in the 2006 election. Yvette Clarke, who ran against him in the 2004 primary and won the 2006 primary nomination to succeed him, was elected with 89 % of the votes.
Representative Owens was one of the 31 who voted in the House to not count the electoral votes from Ohio in the United States presidential election, 2004. [1]
Major Owens was a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
Owens received an "A" on the Drum Major Institute's 2005 Congressional Scorecard on middle-class issues.
The character Mark Richardson in the popular television program The West Wing is believed to be based on Owens. Richardson plays an African-American Congressman from Brooklyn who looks a lot like Owens.
Owens is nicknamed the "Rappin' Rep" since he writes raps. His rap songs are often political and Progressive in nature.
Owens is also the father of actor Geoffrey Owens, best known for playing the role of Elvin on The Cosby Show.
Owens is now a faculty member in the Department of Public Administration at Medgar Evers College.
References
- ^ "Featured African Americans," Library of Congress, http://www.loc.gov/topics/africanamericans/featured/majorowens.html
External links
- Major Owens at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Education Mobilization by Rep. Major Owens
- Interview with Rep. Major Owens
- Voting record maintained by the Washington Post
New York State Senate Preceded by
Chester J. StraubNew York State Senate, 17th District
1975–1982Succeeded by
Howard BabbushUnited States House of Representatives Preceded by
Shirley ChisholmMember of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 12th congressional district
1983–1993Succeeded by
Nydia VelázquezPreceded by
Edolphus TownsMember of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New York's 11th congressional district
1993–2007Succeeded by
Yvette ClarkeCategories:- 1936 births
- Living people
- People from Shelby County, Tennessee
- Baptists from the United States
- African American members of the United States House of Representatives
- New York State Senators
- Members of the Democratic Socialists of America
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from New York
- New York Democrats
- Morehouse College alumni
- Clark Atlanta University alumni
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