Personal 

John A. Owens was born in Birmingham, Alabama on July 7, 1939 to James King Owens and Beatrice Geer Owens.  James King Owens was originally of Troy, Alabama.  He moved to Gordo, Alabama to teach school where he met and married Beatrice Geer.  James King Owens at various times owned and operated a general merchandise store; owned and operated an International Harvester Truck and Tractor - Mercury Automobile Dealership and was majority stockholder, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank of Gordo. 

John Owens is married to Dorothy Terry of Red Level, Alabama, July 7, 1962.  They have two children who are: Apsilah Geer Owens Millsaps (Appie) born August 10, 1966 formerly a lawyer with Lanier, Ford, Shaffer & Payne in Huntsville and now practicing with Owens & Millsaps, LLP and Terry Elizabeth Owens Hurt born September 7, 1968, an interior designer in Truckee, California.

Education 

Educated through high school in the public schools of Gordo, Alabama and was graduated from Gordo High School, Valedictorian, Class of 1957.  Matriculated at the University of Alabama in August, 1957.  Was graduated from the University of Alabama in May, 1961 with a bachelor of science degree in Commerce and Business Administration and a major in Accounting.  Returned to the University of Alabama School of Law in September, 1964 and was graduated from its law school in January, 1967 standing first in the class. 

College and
Law School
Honors and
Activities 

Member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity and served two terms as Treasurer.  Was a member of the business staff of The Crimson White and served as assistant advertising manager, advertising manager and business manager.  Member of Omicron Delta Kappa; Beta Alpha Psi; Alpha Kappa Psi and Druids; listed in Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities, 1960-61 Edition. 

Law School:  Awarded the Lawyer's Title Award for Excellence in the field of Real Property; approximately seven book awards; served on Law Review; Farrah Order of Jurisprudence.  (Predecessor to Order of the Coif at Alabama).  Finished first in Law School Class of 1967.

Military 

Served with the United States Navy Reserve through the Reserve Officer Candidate Program while in college.  This included two summer terms of OCS in Newport, Rhode Island in 1959 and 1960.  Commissioned an Ensign in the United States Navy Reserve, Supply Corps, upon college graduation in May, 1961.  Served three years on active duty consisting of six months in Navy Supply Corps school in Athens, Georgia; one and one-half years aboard the USS POWER (DD-839) out of Mayport, Florida; one year at the United States Navy Area Audit Office in Boston, Massachusetts.  Remained in the United States Navy Reserve for eleven years and attained the rank of Lieutenant.

Professional 

Admitted to the Alabama State Bar in April, 1967.  Practiced law continuously since that date in Tuscaloosa, Alabama with the firm of Phelps and Owens and its successor firms until March 31, 1994.  Founded Owens & Carver, Attorneys at Law, April 1, 1994 with Susie Taylor Carver, (became Owens, Carver & Almond January 1, 1997 then Owens & Almond, LLP January 1, 1998, then Owens & Millsaps in 2003).  Served as a member of the Board of Bar Commissioners of the Alabama State Bar representing Tuscaloosa County in Place No. 2 from 1987 to 1994.  Served as Vice President of the Alabama State Bar 1991-92; President-Elect 1994-95, President of the Alabama State Bar July, 1995 -- July, 1996.  Served on several committees of the State Bar including service as Chairman of the Committee on Bail and Recognizance; Chairman of the Committee on the Future of the Profession and Chairman of the Task Force to review the Pro Hac Vice rules. President - Farrah Order of Jurisprudence/Order of the Coif Alumni Association 1994-1995.  President -  Farrah Law Society of the University of Alabama School of Law, 2000-2002.  Alabama Law Foundation President July 2005 -July 2007.

Member of the Tuscaloosa County Bar Association, American Bar Association, International Association of Defense Counsel, American Trial Lawyers Association, Alabama Trial Lawyers Association, Tuscaloosa County Trial Lawyers Association, Alabama Defense Lawyers Association and the Tuscaloosa Chapter of the American Inns of Court in the category of Master of the Bench.  Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.  Fellow Alabama Bar Foundation.

Civic and 
Community 

Member of the Tuscaloosa Rotary Club (served as President 1983-1984); Board Member, Vice Chairman and Secretary of Tuscaloosa Academy 1980-1986; served many years on the Board of the Tuscaloosa County Arts Council and as President for three years; served as a member and officer of the Tuscaloosa County Solid Waste Authority for approximately five years; served as Chairman of the Jemison House fund drive; Chairman of the Board of Trustees of First United Methodist Church of Tuscaloosa, served several terms as a member of its administrative board; served on the original Board of Directors of the Children's Hands on Museum; Board Member of the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra and Past-President of Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra.  Recipient of the 1985 Patron of the Arts Award and a 1995 Distinguished Service Award both presented by the Arts Council of Tuscaloosa County, Alabama.  Chapter Adviser to Delta Tau Delta at the University of Alabama 1969-1992 and House Corporation President 2002-Present. Permanent Member of The Junior League of Tuscaloosa Advisory Board.  United Way Chairman - Professional Division, 1995 and subsequently two term Board Member United Way of West Alabama.