John Arthur Owens, 1939-

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Title

John Arthur Owens, 1939-

Subject

Lawyers

Description

John Arthur Owens was the 119th president of the Alabama State Bar and the 9th from Tuscaloosa. Preceding him in this post from Tuscaloosa were Archibald Bruce McEachin, 1891-1892; Andrew Coleman Hargrove, 1892-1893; J. Manly Foster, 1918-1919; Bernard Harwood, 1929-1930; John D. McQueen, Sr., 1932-1933; Devon K. Jones, 1941-1942; Walter P. Gewin, 1958-1959; And Hugh W. Roberts Jr., 1978-1979.

Owens was educated in Gordo Public Schools; he was Valedictorian of the Class of 1957. He graduated from the University of Alabama in 1961 with a bachelor of science degree in Commerce and Business Administration. He returned to the university in 1964 and graduated from its law school in January 1967.

Owens served with the United States Navy Reserve through the Reserve Officer Candidate Program while in college and was commissioned an Ensign in the United States Navy Reserve, Supply Corps, upon graduation. He served three years on active duty from 1961-1964 including one and one-half years aboard the USS POWER and remained in the Navy Reserve for eleven years, attaining the rank of Lieutenant.

Owens was admitted to the Alabama State Bar in April, 1967 and has practiced law continuously since that date in Tuscaloosa. He founded Owens and Carver, Attorneys at Law, which is now Owens and Milsap, LLP. The office is located in the historic Minor-Searcy House.

Owens has received many profession and civic honors. Among them was the Tuscaloosa Bar Association Pillar of the Bar Award in 2010. A member of the Tuscaloosa Rotary Club since 1969, he served as president from 1983-1984. He served as president of the Tuscaloosa Arts Council for three years. the was a member and officer of the Tuscaloosa County Solid Waste Authority for five years, chairman of the Jemison House fund drive, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for First United Methodist Church of Alabama, on the original Board of Directors of the Children's Hands On Museum, a Board Member of the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra and is currently Past-President of the Orchestra.

Owens received the 1985 Patron of the Arts Award and a 1995 Distinguished Service Award from the Arts Council of Tuscaloosa County, is a permanent member of the Junior League of Tuscaloosa Advisory Board and was the University of Alabama 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award among other awards.

Contributor

Betty Slowe (Description)

Type

Photograph

Identifier

970

Coverage

Tuscaloosa (AL)

Original Format

Photograph