co_gov_owens
STATE TREASURER BILL OWENS
Age: 48 Born: October 22, 1950; Fort Worth, Texas Education: University of Texas, M.P.A. (1975); Austin State University, B.S. (1973) Military: None Family: Married - Frances; Three children Hometown: Aurora, Colorado Religion: Catholic Career: State Treasurer (1995-present); State Senator (1989-94); State Representative (1983-88); Chair, Aurora Planning and Zoning Commission (1979-81); businessman (1977-94); staff assistant, Sen. John Tower (1974-75) |
• Owens was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. He caught the political bug early and went to Washington, D.C. to serve as a page for the U.S. House of Representatives in 1967-68. He went on to attend Austin State University, where he was elected president of the student body two years in a row.
• After graduating from college, Owens enrolled at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas. He completed his masters degree, and served on the staff of U.S. Sen. John Tower in 1974-75. He also married Frances Westbrook in 1975.
• Owens moved to Colorado in 1977, and soon after he became chairman of the Aurora Planning and Zoning Board. He was also active in Republican politics during this time, and in 1980, he chaired the Reagan/Bush campaign organization in Arapahoe County.
• In 1982, Owens ran and was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives, where he served until 1988. He chaired the State Affairs Committee during his final term in the House. He was elected to the State Senate in 1988, where he chaired the Veterans and Military Affairs Committee. He also served on the Education and Finance Committees.
• Since the Colorado legislature meets part-time, Owens also worked in the private sector during his years there. He worked for the accounting firm Touche Ross, the Gates Corporation, and as direcor of the Colorado Petroleum Association.
• In 1994, Owens ran for his first statewide position and was elected State Treasurer. He is the first Republican to serve as State Treasurer in two decades.
• Owens defeated State Senate President Tom Norton for the GOP nod in this year's race for governor. During the primary campaign, Owens's military record came under fire after he told a reporter he did not have a student deferment during the Vietnam War when, in fact, he did have a deferment. He later said that he had forgotten whether he had escaped service because his lottery number had not been called or because of a student deferment.