[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22970]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        IN CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE OF THADDEUS EDGAR OWENS, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. STEPHANIE TUBBS JONES

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 2, 2007

  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I rise in celebration of the life 
of Thaddeus Edgar Owens, Sr., a great citizen, father, and friend who 
recently passed away at the age of 88.
  Thaddeus was born on January 7, 1919 to Alex Owens and Carrie Brown 
in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He enjoyed a happy childhood with his sister, 
Cleopatra, and a large extended family. An attentive student, he 
received a scholarship to attend Morehouse College in Atlanta, 
enrolling at the young age of sixteen. There, he played football and 
pledged Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
  After graduation, Thaddeus lived and worked in New York until 1941 
when he was drafted into the armed forces. He achieved the rank of a 
sergeant and worked as a clerk in the office of the Quartermaster. In 
preparation for work with the French Underground, Thaddeus was chosen 
to participate in a secret project at Hamilton College where he studied 
and became fluent in French. Despite their training, Thaddeus and his 
fellow African American soldiers were never permitted to participate in 
this aspect of the war. Thaddeus confronted the injustices existing 
within the segregated armed forces protesting the railroading of a 
fellow soldier. His actions resulted in him being accused of mutiny and 
reduced in rank. Despite this incident, he was honorably discharged in 
1945 after receiving the Asiatic Pacific Service, Good Conduct and 
World War II Victory Medals.
  After the war, Thaddeus went on to obtain his law degree from 
Brooklyn Law School. He led an active life in local politics and 
community affairs for many years, serving on the Legal Redress 
Committee of the Brooklyn NAACP and a legal advisor in the Brooklyn 
Democratic Party. His legal career progressed when he won the election 
for Judge of the Civil Court of New York City in 1975. He became the 
first African American man appointed to the Supreme Court of Staten 
Island, and then returned to Brooklyn to serve as a fully appointed 
State Supreme Court Justice in 1982. Thaddeus retired in 1995.
  Thaddeus loved to read and was appreciated for his intellectual 
brilliance. Charming and outgoing, he was known for his quick wit and 
playful sense of humor. Thaddeus always put the care and well-being of 
his family first, his wife, Emma Louise Owens, his two sons, Thaddeus 
Jr. and David, and his two daughters, Michele and Priscilla. On behalf 
of the United States Congress and the people of the 11th District of 
Ohio, I express my sincerest condolences to the family of Thaddeus 
Edgar Owens, Sr. May his legacy of compassion forever live in our 
hearts.

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