Robert Owen

OWEN, ROBERT BOB JEFFERSON -- Services are scheduled for 1:00 P.M., Saturday, January 6, 2007, at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, for Robert Bob Jefferson Owen, age 87, of Roswell, who passed away January 3, 2007, at LaVilla. Fr. Bob Talley will conduct the service. Following the Church service, there will be a reception at the Parish Hall at St. Andrews Church. Interment will follow at South Park Cemetery at 3:00 P.M.

Robert Jefferson Owen was born on July 29, 1919 in Lufkin, Texas. His parents were Pinkney and Bertha Owen. He moved to Roswell in 1927 and graduated from Roswell High School in 1938. Robert married Margaret Bragg on January 16, 1949. Margaret passed away in February of 1998. He is survived by three sons: Robert Bob Lawson Owen and his wife Laura, former Mayor William Bill Bragg Owen and his wife Kay, and Major General Thomas Tom Jefferson Owen and his wife Mary Beth, and six grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He is also survived by one sister, Nadine Ellison of Clovis, NM.

In 1943, Robert joined the military in the aviation cadet program of the Army Air Corps. In 1944 he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and headed to Paddington, England, where he flew missions as the lead bombardier in a B-17 Flying Fortress with the 92nd Bomb Group. After returning from World War II, Owen remained in the Air Corps Reserves which became the Air Force Reserves. Later he went into the National Guard and eventually retired as a Lt. Colonel.

Robert also worked for the Santa Fe Railroad as an engineer on local delivery trains, making daily runs around NM.

Bob, as he was known around City Hall, went to work for the City of Roswell on December 17, 1962 as a draftsman and engineering aide. In July of 1964, he was appointed Civil Defense Director. Three years later he was promoted to Assistant City Manager under Hoyt McMinn. Owen was working in this position when the devastating decision was handed down to close Walker Air Force Base.

Bob was appointed to City Manager in October of 1973. Along with the elected officials in the late 1960s and 1970s he worked tirelessly to help Roswells recovery after the closure of Walker Air Force Base.
PHaving seen the devastation caused by the base closing, he began to look to Roswells future. During his tenure, Owen began to acquire water rights for the City, hoping to head off any future disasters. Owen was quoted: Youve got to look ahead. My main thought was to plan and do what was for the best for the City of Roswell in the long haul. Owen helped the City of Roswell negotiate the purchase of multiple water rights, which included the Trigg Farm, South Springs