Burgess Owens

Clarence Burgess Owens (born August 2, 1951) is an American political candidate and retired American football safety who played ten seasons in the National Football League for the New York Jets and the Oakland Raiders. He is the Republican nominee for Utah's 4th congressional district in the 2020 election, facing Ben McAdams.

Burgess Owens
Personal details
Born
Clarence Burgess Owens

(1951-08-02) August 2, 1951
Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
EducationUniversity of Miami (BS)
Football career
No. 22, 44
Position:Safety
Personal information
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:199 lb (90 kg)
Career information
High school:Rickards (FL)
College:University of Miami
NFL Draft:1973 / Round: 1 / Pick: 13
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Interceptions:30
Int. return yards:458
Defensive Touchdowns:4
Player stats at PFR

Early life and education

Owens was born in Columbus, Ohio where his Texas-born father had come to do graduate studies he could not do back in Texas due to limits on African-American enrollment at the time. When very young the family moved to Tallahasee, Florida where his father taught as a college professor.[1] He was one of the earliest African-American students to attend the high school he went to and was prepared for a science major in college by spending much time in college labs over the summer as a youth.

Football

Owens graduated from Rickards High School in Tallahassee, Florida in 1969,[2] and then attended the University of Miami, where he was a First-Team All-American defensive back, Most Valuable Defensive Player of the North–South All Star Game, and MVP of the Coaches All-American Game. He was inducted into the University of Miami Sports Hall Of Fame in 1980, and its Orange Bowl "Ring of Honor" in 1999. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Chemistry from the University of Miami.[3]

The New York Jets selected Owens in the first round of the 1973 NFL Draft. During his rookie season, he returned a kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown against the Denver Broncos on October 28. This was the Jets' only TD scored on a kickoff return during the 1970s. He was a regular starter for the Jets for most of the 1970s, and was a part of the Raiders' 1980 championship team.

Career

Early career

In 1983, Owens moved to New York City.

Shortly after leaving professional football, Owens and his brother ran a business that sold electronics to other businesses to track business expenses. The venture failed and Owens eventually declared bankruptcy.[4]

Owens later relocated to a small apartment in Brooklyn, where he worked as a chimney sweep and security guard. He later moved to Philadelphia, where he took a sales job with WordPerfect.[5]

In 2012, Owens moved to Herriman, Utah.[6] He has founded Second Chance 4 Youth, a non-profit dedicated to helping troubled an incarcerated youth.[7]

Politics

Owens has described his views as “very conservative.”[8] In June 2019, Owens, who is black, provided testimony to a United States House Committee on the Judiciary subcommittee opposing a bill that advocated reparations for slavery.[9] Owens has also criticized U.S. national anthem protests and Colin Kaepernick.[10] In November 2019, Owens called Donald Trump "an advocate for black Americans."[11] He is a frequent guest contributor on Fox News. He has also authored three books on politics.[12]

2020 House of Representatives race

In November 2019, Owens announced that he would run for the U.S. House of Representatives to face Ben McAdams. He was one of four candidates to run in the 2020 Republican primary for the seat representing Utah's 4th congressional district.

At a June 1, 2020 Republican primary debate, he stated his position that Democrats in Washington are held in thrall by Marxists and socialists, whom he described as enemies of America. “The days of Ronald Reagan and Tip O'Neill are over. We’re dealing with people who hate our country,” Owens stated. He also stated his position that the Affordable Care Act should be repealed, and stated support for President Trump.[13]

On June 30, 2020, he won the primary with 43% of the vote, defeating Utah State Representative Kim Coleman by a twenty-point margin. Owens also defeated challengers KSL radio personality Jay McFarland and businessman Trent Christensen.[14][15]

During an appearance on Tucker Carlson Tonight on July 31, 2020, Owens stated his position that the NBA, led by Commissioner Adam Silver, is made up of "corporate cowards" whose first priority is access to the Chinese basketball market, and who seek to ensure Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election to that end.[16]

Personal life

Owens was married for 34 years, has six children, and is a prostate cancer survivor.[17] He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and has spoken publicly about his faith.[2][18]

Owens joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during his final season playing with the Oakland Raiders. In 1988, he spoke at a meeting sponsored by the Charles Redd Center for Western Studies held on the 10th anniversary of the 1978 Revelation on Priesthood in the LDS Church.[19]

Works and publications

References
  1. Salt Lake Tribune bio of Owens
  2. Ensley, Gerald (April 10, 2008). "Ex-NFL player with Tallahassee roots speaks Friday". Tallahassee Democrat. Archived from the original on April 12, 2008. Retrieved April 15, 2008.
  3. "Burgess Owens". Young America's Foundation. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  4. Salt Lake Tribune bio of Owens
  5. Salt Lake Tribune bio of Owens
  6. Romboy, Dennis (August 20, 2019). "Former NFL player blames 'black elitists' for holding back African Americans". Deseret News. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  7. "Burgess Owens – Sagamore Institute". Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  8. "3 GOP candidates concede 4th District primary race to Burgess Owens". KSL.
  9. Segers, Grace (June 19, 2019). "House committee confronts the "inheritance of slavery" in panel on reparations". CBS News. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
  10. "For Burgess Owens, his political journey began in an NFL locker room". SI.com. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  11. Roche, Lisa Riley (November 6, 2019). "Former NFL player Burgess Owens gets in 4th Congressional District race". Deseret News. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  13. "4th District Republicans debate economy, COVID-19 ahead of June primary election". UtahPolicy.com. June 1, 2020.
  14. Mihaly, Abigail (July 1, 2020). "Former NFL player Burgess Owens Wins Utah GOP primary". The Hill. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  15. "Former KSL radio personality Jay McFarland to run for Congress against Ben McAdams". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  16. "Burgess Owens bashes NBA as 'corporate cowards' who need Biden for China access: 'They are into their money'". Fox News. July 31, 2020.
  17. "Burgess Bio". Burgess Owens for Congress. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  18. Kay Raftery (June 17, 1997)., "Pro Football Players Share Their Mormon Faith Ty Detmer, Burgess Owens And Vai Sikahema Told A Packed Sanctuary Of The Role Of Religion In Their Lives,". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  19. Ensign article on meeting where Owens spoke
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