Owens, Burgess, 1951-

OWENS, Burgess, a Representative from Utah; born in Columbus, Ohio, August 2, 1951; graduated from James S. Rickards High School, Tallahassee, Fla., 1969; B.S., University of Miami, Coral Gables, Fla.; professional athlete; business executive; nonprofit executive; entrepreneur; elected as a Republican to the One Hundred Seventeenth Congress (January 3, 2021–present).

<p>Burgess Owens is the Congressman from Utah’s Fourth Congressional District. Born in the segregated South, he saw people of all backgrounds come together to work tirelessly against adversity.</p>

<p>As a young man, Burgess was one of the first four black athletes recruited to play football at the University of Miami and the third black student there to receive a scholarship. He was the 13th pick in the first round of the 1973 NFL draft and joined the New York Jets, later playing safety for ten seasons in the NFL for the New York Jets and the Oakland Raiders, winning the Superbowl with the 1980 Raiders’ team.</p>

<p>After retiring from the NFL, Burgess worked in the corporate sales world and eventually moved the Owens family to beautiful Utah. Before being elected to Congress, he started Second Chance 4 Youth, a non-profit dedicated to helping troubled and incarcerated youth.</p>

<p>Clarence Burgess Owens (born August 2, 1951) is an American politician, non-profit executive, and former professional football player serving as the U.S. Representative for Utah's 4th congressional district. Burgess played safety for 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Jets and the Oakland Raiders. Since leaving the NFL, Owens has founded several businesses and is the CEO of a nonprofit dedicated to helping troubled and incarcerated youth. A Republican, Owens narrowly defeated incumbent Democrat Ben McAdams in the 2020 election. Burgess, along with Byron Donalds, is one of two black Republicans in the House of Representatives.</p>

<p>Owens was born in Columbus, Ohio, where his Texas-born father had come to do graduate studies he could not complete in Texas due to Jim Crow laws. The family later moved to Tallahassee, Florida, where Owens' father taught as a college professor. Owens was raised in a Baptist home.</p>

<p>Owens graduated from Rickards High School in Tallahassee, Florida, in 1969. He was one of four African-American players who were integrated onto a football team at a historically white high school. Owens was the third of four black athletes recruited to play at the University of Miami and the third black student to earn a scholarship. He was named 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.</p>

<p>Owens earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and chemistry from the University of Miami.</p>