| George Albert Owens | |
| Birth Date: | February 9, 1919 |
| Death Date: | December 21, 2003 |
| Birth Place: | Bolton, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Occupation: | Academic administrator, college president |
| Office: | 8th President of Tougaloo College (acting) |
| Termstart: | September 1964 |
| Termend: | 1965 |
| Office2: | 9th President of Tougaloo College |
| Termstart2: | 1966 |
| Termend2: | 1984 |
| Preceded: | Adam Daniel Beittel |
| Succeeded2: | Herman Blake |
| Alma Mater: | Tougaloo College, Columbia University |
George Albert Owens (February 9, 1919 – December 21, 2003) was an American academic administrator and college president. He served as the 9th president of Tougaloo College in Mississippi serving from 1966 to 1984.[1] He was the college's first African American president.[2] He succeeded Adam D. Beittel who was removed from office after supporting civil rights activists.[3] [4] While in office he increased funding and campus housing.
He was born in Bolton, Mississippi, on February 9, 1919, to sharecropping parents and he graduated from Jackson College High School.[5] He graduated from Tougaloo College and Columbia University.[1] He had captained the school's football team. He worked as its business manager.[6]
The New York Times quoted him in a story about the college in 1970 saying "Institutions like ours have the responsibility to identify the strengths of our students".[7] His wife's name was Ruth and she died before him. The college's gymnasium was named for them.[8] [9] U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams visited the health and wellness center named for him on the occasion of its 20th anniversary.[10]
He received threats as college president, as well as other staff, and his home on the college campus was bombed.[11]
Owens died on December 21, 2003, after suffering with Parkinson's disease. His two children survived him.[12] [13]
Inauguration of George A. Owens as President of Tougaloo College, April 21, 1966, by Tougaloo College, Tougaloo, Mississippi 1966[14]