Remembering Congressman Major Robert Odell Owens

Floor Speech

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, like my colleagues, I mourn the death of Major Owens, but I also want to celebrate his life. My purpose for rising tonight is to do just this: celebrate his life.

Major Owens was a person of character who had a great reputation. I had the honor of knowing him through my chief of staff, who was his chief of staff for 16 years. In working with her, she explained to me all of the many things that he was a party to over the course of the years, not only here in Congress, where he worked on legislation to help persons who had disabilities, but also back in his home district, where he was a person who championed the causes of people who were in need.

It means something to me to know that he has this great reputation, but it is equally as important for me to share with people that he did have character.

When I met with him to discuss the hiring of Jackie Ellis, my chief of staff, because she was working with him, and he was contemplating some other things and moving, he explained to me how important it was in this body to keep your word. He explained that, among your friends and your colleagues, your word is the thing that will give you the opportunity to continue to have support in the Congress of the United States of America. His words about character and integrity are still with me.

I suspect that because he was a teacher--and as you know, teachers impact eternity--I will pass on to others what he has done because he passed it on to me, and what his chief of staff caused me to learn vicariously from him will impact my office eternally.

I am grateful to him. I pay tribute to him. I want his family to know that he has been a blessing to me and to my staff and to the people I serve.

God bless you, and thank you, Major.

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