James Mulkey Owens, Jr. was born in Grapeland, Texas, on August 13, 1908. He went to work for the Texas Highway Department (now called the Texas Department of Transportation) in 1928, retiring 45 years later as the District Engineer responsible for construction and maintenance of all state traffic ways in the Austin District. In addition to his professional career Owens was dedicated to preserving the history of central Texas by researching, recording and restoring historic landmarks in Travis and adjoining counties. He pursued this goal as a local citizen and as a member of the Travis County Historical Commission. He built a recording devise that allowed him to record all local dedication ceremonies as each state-approved historical marker was dedicated and would create a bound volume that included a transcript of the ceremony, photographs and the research submitted for the historic designation. He was also a member of Kiwanis International, Barbed Wire Collectors Association and was active in the Tarrytown United Methodist Church. Owens' work in the community was recognized and among the many awards and recognitions he received was the Austin Board of Realtors "Most Worthy Citizen" in 1977 and Texas Barbed Wire Collectors Association "Barbarian of the Year" in 1974.
Owens died on January 9, 1993.
From the guide to the James Mulkey Owens, Jr. Papers AR. 1993. 038., 1956-1992, 1980-1991, (Austin History Center, Austin Public Library, )
