George Albert Owens

George Albert Owens
8th President of Tougaloo College (acting)
In office September 1964 – 1965
Preceded by	Adam Daniel Beittel
9th President of Tougaloo College
In office 1966–1984
Succeeded by	Herman Blake
Personal details
Born	February 9, 1919 Bolton, Mississippi, U.S.
Died	December 21, 2003
Alma mater	Tougaloo College, Columbia University
Occupation	Academic administrator, college president

George Albert Owens (February 9, 1919 – December 21, 2003) was an American academic administrator and college president. He served as the 9th president of Tougaloo College in Mississippi serving from 1966 to 1984.[1] He was the college's first African American president.[2] He succeeded Adam D. Beittel who was removed from office after supporting civil rights activists.[3][4] While in office he increased funding and campus housing.[5]

Biography

He was born in Bolton, Mississippi, on February 9, 1919, to sharecropping parents and he graduated from Jackson College High School.[6] He graduated from Tougaloo College and Columbia University.[1] He had captained the school's football team. He worked as its business manager.[7]

The New York Times quoted him in a story about the college in 1970 saying "Institutions like ours have the responsibility to identify the strengths of our students".[8] His wife's name was Ruth and she died before him.[5] The college's gymnasium was named for them.[9][10] U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams visited the health and wellness center named for him on the occasion of its 20th anniversary.[11]

He received threats as college president, as well as other staff, and his home on the college campus was bombed.[12]

Owens died on December 21, 2003, after suffering with Parkinson's disease. His two children survived him.[5][13]

Further reading

Inauguration of George A. Owens as President of Tougaloo College, April 21, 1966, by Tougaloo College, Tougaloo, Mississippi 1966[14]

References

1. "Inventory of the Office of the President Records: George A. Owens". Mississippi Digital Library. 2005.
2. Mitchell, Martha (1993). "Tougaloo College". Encyclopedia Brunoniana. Brown University.
3. Shugana, Williams (July 11, 2017). "Tougaloo College". Mississippi Encyclopedia. Center for Study of Southern Culture. Retrieved 2023-05-12.
4. https://aquila.usm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1263&context=dissertations
5. "Tougaloo's 1st black president dies at 84". Clarion-Ledger. 22 December 2003. p. 13. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
6. Sewell, George Alexander; Dwight, Margaret L. (January 20, 2012). Mississippi Black History Makers. Univ. Press of Mississippi. ISBN 9781617034282 – via Google Books.
7. Lowe, Maria (2009). ""Sowing the Seeds of Discontent": Tougaloo College's Social Science Forums as a Prefigurative Movement Free Space, 1952-1964". Journal of Black Studies. 39 (6): 865–887. doi:10.1177/0021934707305401. JSTOR 40282604. S2CID 143545745 – via JSTOR.
8. Johnson, Thomas A. (July 25, 1970). "Poverty Is a Boast at Tougaloo College". The New York Times.
9. "SR 32 (As Adopted by Senate) - 1999 Regular Session". billstatus.ls.state.ms.us.
10. "Owens Health and Wellness Center | Tougaloo College". www.tougaloo.edu.
11. "U. S. Surgeon General visits Tougaloo". www.wlbt.com. 11 October 2018.
12. "Late Dr. Owens inspiration to many". Clarion-Ledger. 7 January 2004. p. 8. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
13. "George Owens - Educator served as trailblazer". Clarion-Ledger. 26 December 2003. p. 14. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
14. Inauguration of George A. Owens as President of Tougaloo College, April 21, 1966. Division of Higher Education and American Missionary Association of the United Church Board for Homeland Ministries. 1966.