The Honorable Charles Owens
2005 Distinguished Alumnus, JD 1960
Only a handful of lawyers will ever get the opportunity to argue a case before the United States Supreme Court. Of that handful, very few will argue a case that results in a changed interpretation of the Constitution affecting the rest of the country. In this select few is where you’ll find the first appointed African American judge in Oklahoma and 2005 TU Distinguished Alumnus, the Honorable Charles Owens (JD ‘60).
From a segregated class at Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, Owens was the first in his family to graduate from college. He studied business at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri, graduating with a BS in 1952. His interest in law developed in college and grew during his two years of service in the military, leading him to return to Tulsa and join the city’s police department.
The mere accomplishment of overcoming prejudice and racism to attend and graduate from college, during a time when there was no shortage of either, gives the impression of Owens as a man on a mission. But at the time, Owens’ mission was unbeknown even to him. He attributes his determination and drive to his parents and upbringing.
“I sort of felt that I was destined for something,” Owens said. “But I didn’t know what or if. Even though I did have opportunities that my Mom and Dad didn’t have, it was still very segregated in Tulsa. And I somehow wanted to overcome that.”
Owens didn’t just overcome; he overthrew. While Owens worked the graveyard shift as a police officer, he took classes from The University of Tulsa Law School during the evening.
“I was always fascinated with law and the ability of law to change things,” he said.
For four years, Owens studied and attended classes during the evening, worked the 11 p.m. - 7 a.m. shift on the force, came home to tell his wife, Edythe, good-bye as she headed to her job as a teacher, slept a few hours and returned to the law school library to prepare for his next class.
In 1963, Owens went to work as assistant attorney general to then Oklahoma Attorney General Charles Nesbitt. Nesbitt’s admiration for Owens’ legal abilities carried over to the next elected attorney general, G.T. Blankenship, who asked Owens to stay on for his term. But after two years with Blankenship, Owens received an appointment of his own; an appointment coveted by any lawyer and, until Owens, unknown to any black lawyer in Oklahoma — he became the first African American to sit on the state’s district court bench.
When such a monumental event occurs in one’s life, sometimes there just aren’t strong enough words — it’s a feeling. For Owens, a “very memorable” feeling.
But memorable experiences aren’t uncommon for Owens.
When you become a lawyer, dreams of arguing in front of the Supreme Court may fill your head, but those dreams are seldom realized. But, realized, reached and rewarded were those dreams for Owens.
“To orally argue a case in front of the Supreme Court is rather unique,” Owens said.
In 30 minutes, standing before the only court with the power to change the law, Owens, assistant attorney general at the time, argued his case and got the result he sought. The court ruled against Owens, but when a new law was established in that area; Owens saw the fruit of his labor.
As a judge, Owens presided over several high-profile cases, including State v. Roger Dale Stafford, which was the first and only case to ever be televised from Oklahoma.
Owens may be retired, but his desire to make a difference isn’t. Inspired by his daughter, Melanie, who was born blind, Owens serves as president of the board for the Oklahoma Foundation for the Disabled.
“I’m very proud of her and all her accomplishments,” Owens said.
That same pride is also felt by Owens for his son, Charles Jr., who followed in his father’s footsteps by working in the law enforcement industry. And, for his wife of almost 49 years, Owens has the highest respect and appreciation.
Owens belongs to several elite classes — a class of people who can say they were the first: the first class of alumni to be inducted into the Booker T. Washington Hall of Fame, a class of Lifetime Achievement Award recipients from The University of Tulsa Law School, a class of Lincoln University recognized alumni, and now he joins the class of Distinguished Alumni from The University of Tulsa.
“It really means a great deal to me,” he said in reference to his selection as a Distinguished Alumnus. “It took a while for it to sink in — that an entire university would name me as a Distinguished Alumnus out of all the alumni. That’s quite a singular accomplishment in my mind.”
Fittingly, Owens is known for his singularity.