Douglas Wayne Owens | |
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| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromUtah's2nd district | |
| In office January 3, 1987 – January 3, 1993 | |
| Preceded by | David Smith Monson |
| Succeeded by | Karen Shepherd |
| In office January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1975 | |
| Preceded by | Sherman P. Lloyd |
| Succeeded by | Allan Turner Howe |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 2, 1937 Panguitch, Utah, U.S. |
| Died | December 18, 2002(2002-12-18) (aged 65) |
| Resting place | Salt Lake City Cemetery 40°46′37.92″N111°51′28.8″W / 40.7772000°N 111.858000°W /40.7772000; -111.858000 |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Marlene Wessel |
| Children | 5 |
| Alma mater | University of Utah |
| Profession | Attorney |
Douglas Wayne Owens (May 2, 1937 – December 18, 2002) was an American politician and a member of theUnited States House of Representatives forUtah's 2nd congressional district from 1973 to 1975 and again from 1987 to 1993.[1] He was posthumously inducted into theHinckley Institute of Politics hall of Fame.[2]
Born and raised in the small town ofPanguitch, Utah,[3] Owens graduated from Panguitch High School in 1955, then attended theUniversity of Utah inSalt Lake City, from which he earned his Bachelor's degree in 1961 and hisJuris Doctor in 1964.[4] Owens's undergraduate education was interrupted while he served asmissionary toFrance forthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS church) from 1957 to 1960.[1] In France, he met his future wife, Marlene, a fellow missionary for the church. Owens worked his way through college and law school through working various jobs, including being a night-watchman at the Beehive House. He then worked as a lawyer in private practice and as a staffer for threeUnited States Senators,Frank Moss ofUtah,Robert F. Kennedy ofNew York, andEdward M. Kennedy ofMassachusetts.[1] He was the Western states coordinator for the presidential campaigns of Robert Kennedy in 1968 and Edward Kennedy in 1980, and served as a delegate to theDemocratic National Convention in 1968 and 1980.[1]
In 1972, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as aDemocrat by "walking for Congress" throughout the district to meet voters personally. He unseated incumbent RepublicanSherman P. Lloyd with 55% of the vote. During that period, he sat on the House Judiciary Committee which voted for the articles of impeachment of President Richard M. Nixon.
He ran an unsuccessful U.S. Senate campaign againstJake Garn in 1974, then served as amission president of theLDS Canada Montreal Mission from 1975 to 1978, after which he returned toSalt Lake City to practice law. In 1984, Owens lost theUtah gubernatorial race to RepublicanNorman H. Bangerter, but was re-elected to the House in 1986 and served through 1992, when he ran for the U.S. Senate again. That year, he was defeated by a wider margin than expected byBob Bennett. Owens was embarrassed that year by his involvement in the so-calledHouse banking scandal.[5]
On December 18, 2002, Owens suffered a fatalheart attack[6] inTel Aviv,Israel, while on a trip to further the cause ofMiddle East peace.
Speaking at the funeral,Gordon B. Hinckley called Owens "a man of achievement" and a peacemaker who desired to make the world better. At the time of his death, he was continuing his efforts to improve the world, heading up the Center for Middle East Peace & Economic Cooperation. "I was with him constantly", Hinckley said. "I learned to appreciate and respect him and honor him. I have followed him ever since."[7]
In the2014 and2016 congressional elections, Wayne Owens's son,Doug Owens, ran for election toUtah's 4th congressional district.[8] He was defeated by Republican candidateMia Love in both of his runs.
{{cite book}}:|work= ignored (help)| Party political offices | ||
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| Preceded by Milton N. Weilenmann | Democratic nominee forU.S. Senator from Utah (Class 3) 1974 | Succeeded by Dan Berman |
| Preceded by | Democratic nominee forGovernor of Utah 1984 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Craig S. Oliver | Democratic nominee forU.S. Senator from Utah (Class 3) 1992 | Succeeded by Scott Leckman |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromUtah's 2nd congressional district 1973–1975 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromUtah's 2nd congressional district 1987–1993 | Succeeded by |
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| Oneat-large seat (1895–1913) |
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| Two at-large seats (1913–1915) |
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| Districts (1915–present) (3rd district established in 1983) (4th district established in 2013) |
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| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
