Major Owens - Definition and Overview

Major Robert Odell Owens (born June 28, 1936) is a New York politician.

Owens was born in Collierville, Tennessee. He has a bachelor's degree from Morehouse College and a master of science degree from Atlanta University. Owens was a librarian before entering politics. He was elected to the New York state senate in 1974 as a Democrat.

In 1982, he was elected to the House of Represenatives replacing the retiring Shirley Chisholm. One of his achievements in the House was the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Although Owens won the Democratic primary with just 45% of the vote, he was re-elected in 2004 with 94% of the vote. He plans to retire from the House at the end of his term in 2007.