[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 106 (Friday, July 31, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1492]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN HONOR OF WILLIAM BOYD OWEN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES H. TAYLOR

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 30, 1998

  Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, America is strong because 
of its millions of citizens who work hard and provide futures for 
themselves and their families. They build professions, businesses, 
jobs, and they build strong communities through endless hours of 
service.
  It's my privilege today to recognize one of those individuals who has 
been a leader in his profession, his community, and a respected and 
revered father and grandfather, William Boyd Owen.
  Born in Dellwood, North Carolina on August 16, 1918, W. Boyd Owen was 
the youngest of three physician brothers in a medical family which 
spans several generations and includes his son, William B. Owen Jr., a 
Haywood County, North Carolina orthopedic surgeon.
  Boyd attended Canton, North Carolina public schools before entering 
Wake Forest College in Wake Forest, North Carolina where he displayed 
many talents. Young Boyd played basketball, and played the saxophone 
and clarinet with an orchestra while in college. In 1939, he played for 
Wake Forest in the very first post season NCAA basketball tournament. 
After graduation, he entered the Wake Forest Medical School, later 
transferring to the University of Pennsylvania Medical School where he 
earned his medical degree at the age of twenty-three.
  Dr. Owen interned at Philadelphia General Hospital, then entered the 
United States Army Medical Corps in 1943. He remained in the medical 
corps until 1946, attaining the rank of major. He served in Hawaii, the 
United States and the Philippines, and after leaving active duty, he 
remained in the inactive reserves for six years.
  In 1946, he opened a general medical practice in Waynesville. In 1947 
he ``covered'' the Canton practice of his older brother Dr. Charles 
Owen. Meanwhile his own practice grew until he built the present Owen-
Smith Clinic in 1954 after being joined by Dr. A. Heyward Smith. In 
1962 he was elected to the North Carolina Board of Medical Examiners, 
serving for six years including the last year as president.
  Dr. Owen's career has spanned the time period when he could not get a 
new car because of war-time conditions and he was paid with chickens 
and wood, to present-day medicine which utilizes computers, lasers and 
high-tech surgical procedures. He is a member and founding fellow of 
the American Academy of Family Practice, life member of the North 
Carolina Medical Society and the North Carolina Academy of Family 
Practitioners.
  Dr. Owen has been a member of the Wake Forest Board of Trustees since 
1954, longer than any living member. He served on the Trustee Athletic 
Committee as chairman and was also on the Executive Committee. In 1991, 
Dr. Owen was made a life trustee. For two decades he belonged to the 
Wake Forest President's Club, and he worked as class agent for several 
medical classes. Dr. Owen was president of the Bowman Gray Medical 
School Alumni and earned a citation for distinguished service. In 1989, 
he chaired the Medical Center Board which encompasses the Bowman Gray 
School of Medicine of Wake Forest and the North Carolina Baptist 
Hospital in Winston-Salem.
  Active in the First Baptist Church of Waynesville, Dr. Owen has 
served as deacon, trustee and chaired a variety of committees. He has 
been a member and former president of the Lions Club, the Waynesville 
Chamber of Commerce, the ``30 Club'' and is now a member of the Rotary 
Club.
  Dr. Owen recently retired after fifty-one years in active practice 
and resides in Waynesville. His wife of more than 50 years is the 
former Helen Bryan. Their four children are: Elizabeth Owen Taylor, 
William Boyd Owen, Jr., James Griffin Owen and Mary Owen Davis. All 
four children graduated from Wake Forest University as did his wife, 
Helen. Helen's father, D.B. Bryan, was Dean of Wake Forest College for 
26 years. He is the proud grandfather of eleven grandchildren one of 
whom is now enrolled at Wake Forest University.

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