Wayne Owens

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Douglas Wayne Owens
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Utah's 2nd district
In office
January 3, 1987 – January 3, 1993
Preceded byDavid Smith Monson
Succeeded byKaren Shepherd
In office
January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1975
Preceded bySherman P. Lloyd
Succeeded byAllan Turner Howe
Personal details
BornMay 2, 1937
Panguitch, Utah, U.S.
DiedDecember 18, 2002(2002-12-18) (aged 65)
Tel Aviv, Israel
Resting placeSalt Lake City Cemetery
40°46′37.92″N 111°51′28.8″W / 40.7772000°N 111.858000°W / 40.7772000; -111.858000
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseMarlene Wessel
Children5
Alma materUniversity of Utah
ProfessionAttorney

Douglas Wayne Owens (May 2, 1937 – December 18, 2002) was an American politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives for Utah's 2nd congressional district from 1973 to 1975 and again from 1987 to 1993.[1] He was inducted into the Hinckley Institute of Politics hall of fame posthumously.

Early life

Owens was born and raised in Panguitch, Utah.[2]

Early Career

He then worked as a lawyer in private practice and as a staffer for three United States Senators, Frank Moss of Utah, Robert F. Kennedy of New York, and Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts.[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 the Democratic National Convention in 1968 and 1980.[1]

US Congressional Career

In 1972, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat by "walking for Congress" throughout the district to meet voters personally. Before beginning his campaign, his close friend Ted Kennedy asked him if there was anything he could do to help, to which Owens responded jokingly "just stay away from it" referring to the staunchly Republican voter base of Utah, where Owens would run and win as a Democrat. He unseated incumbent Republican Sherman P. Lloyd with 55% of the vote. He then sat on the House Judiciary Committee which voted for the articles of impeachment of President Richard M. Nixon.

U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) (left) holds a press conference with U.S. Rep. Wayne Owens (D-Utah) (right) in March 1989 as part of their successful charge to win passage of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), which provides for ongoing compensation to Southern Utahns and others damaged by nuclear testing in the 1950s and 1960s.

After an unsuccessful U.S. Senate campaign against Jake Garn in 1974, Wayne was called as a mission president for the LDS. He was close friends with James E. Faust with whom he had worked for Senator Frank Moss. Wayne headed the Canada Montreal Mission from 1975 to 1978 where he established the first french-speaking "stakes" by converting significant quantities of french people to the mormon faith. A stake is the mormon equivalent of a catholic Diocese. This laid the important groundwork for the Montreal Quebec Temple. At the dedication of the temple, President Gordon B Hinkley exclaimed jokingly "you almost got us killed" remembering the time Wayne drove Hinkley around the French mission in the scary traffic back in the late 1950s. Owens maintained his french skills throughout his life. The prominent Utah financier Randal Quarles served under him as a missionary.

After his service as a Mission president, he returned to Salt Lake City to practice law. In 1984, Owens lost the Utah gubernatorial race to Republican Norman 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 by Bob Bennett. Owens was embarrassed that year by his involvement in the so-called House banking scandal,.[3] Owens was cleared by the House Ethics Committee of any wrong-doing, as the "scandal" was essentially generous overdraft protection and no taxpayer money was ever at risk. Owens was attacked for his "liberal" voting record, which his supporters contended actually was liberal only by the standard of conservative Utah politics. However, he was undefeated in each election for Utah's 4th congressional district for the US House of Representatives.

International Political Career

Following his political career in the USA, Wayne Owens embarked on a multifaceted journey dedicated to promoting peace and stability in the Middle East. First serving as a personal Lawyer for King Hussein of Jordan, Wayne was called back to the US briefly for work in the Carter Administration on pressing western-water-rights issues on the National Advisory Committee on Resource Conservation and Recovery. Concluding this important work as fast as he could, Wayne Owens and jewish billionaire S. Daniel Abraham (founder of Slim Fast) co-founded the Middle East Peace Organization, dedicated to fostering dialogue and cooperation for peace in the region. Building upon his extensive experience and expertise in diplomacy and conflict resolution, Owens collaborated closely with prominent international figures such as King Hussein of Jordan, King Abdullah II, and Israeli Prime Ministers Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres. His diplomatic efforts extended beyond traditional channels as he engaged with grassroots organizations and civil society leaders to foster dialogue and reconciliation among diverse communities. Owens' impactful initiatives in the Middle East included facilitating negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian leaders, contributing to the historic Oslo Accords, and advocating for sustainable solutions to regional conflicts. His tireless commitment to peacebuilding and bridge-building initiatives earned him accolades and recognition from global leaders and peace advocates alike, solidifying his legacy as a statesman dedicated to promoting harmony and understanding in complex geopolitical contexts.

Death

In December of 2002, Wayne passed away following a heart attack while on the Tel Aviv Israel beach during an evening walk.

Speaking at the Funeral, President Gordon B. Hinckley called former U.S. Congressman and mission president Wayne Owens "a man of achievement" and a peacemaker who desired to make the world better. He expressed sympathy to the Owens family for their loss and recognized Brother Owens for his life of public and Church service. Brother Owens died Dec. 18, 2002, in Tel Aviv, Israel. 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," President Hinckley said. "I learned to appreciate and respect him and honor him. I have followed him ever since."Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page). He was defeated by Republican candidate Mia Love in both of his runs.

References

  1. ^ a b c "OWENS, Douglas Wayne, (1937–2002)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress 1774–Present. U.S. Congress. Retrieved 2007-07-05.
  2. ^ Barone, Michael; Ujifusa, Grant (1987). The Almanac of American Politics 1988. p. 1206. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  3. ^ Candidates support House list all names of check-bouncers

External links

Party political offices
Preceded by
Milton N. Weilenmann
Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Utah
(Class 3)

1974
Succeeded by
Dan Berman
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Governor of Utah
1984
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Craig S. Oliver
Democratic nominee for U.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
from Utah's 2nd congressional district

1973–1975
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Utah's 2nd congressional district

1987–1993
Succeeded by