1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 10 11 TO REQUEST THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 12 NAME THE INTERSECTION LOCATED AT THE JUNCTION 13 OF CALHOUN AND RUTLEDGE STREETS IN THE CITY OF 14 CHARLESTON “OFFICER JAMES OWENS, JR. MEMORIAL 15 INTERSECTION” AND ERECT APPROPRIATE MARKERS 16 OR SIGNS AT THIS LOCATION CONTAINING THIS 17 DESIGNATION. 18 19 Whereas, James Owens, Jr., was born on December 1, 1933, in 20 Charleston, South Carolina, one of seven children of James 21 Owens, Sr., and Martha Gregg Owens. He attended Charleston 22 County area schools and while in his teens, worked at the local 23 post office; and 24 25 Whereas, he was joined in marriage to Shirley Mack Owens and 26 together they were blessed with a large family. The family 27 attended Gethsemane Baptist Church in Charleston; and 28 29 Whereas, Owens joined the United States Army at the young age 30 of seventeen, serving abroad at posts in Germany and Korea. 31 Completing his military service, Owens spent several years with 32 the Charleston County Fire Department. He later joined the 33 Charleston County Police Department, becoming one of the 34 county’s first AfricanAmerican policemen. He was described as an 35 easy going officer who seemed to enjoy tough investigations; and 36 37 Whereas, it was in this line of duty, on May 11, 1968, while 38 transporting a justarrested criminal to the county jail, that the 39 suspect produced a .22 caliber handgun shooting Owens four 40 times. Mortally wounded, the 34yearold patrolman died in the 41 westbound lane of Calhoun Street; and 42

[814] 1 1 Whereas, with May 11, 2018, marking the fiftieth anniversary of 2 this tragic event, it would be fitting and proper to pay tribute to the 3 heroic deeds of Patrolman Owens by naming an intersection in the 4 City of Charleston in his honor. Now, therefore, 5 6 Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives 7 concurring: 8 9 That the Department of Transportation name the intersection 10 located at the junction of Calhoun and Rutledge streets in the City 11 of Charleston “Officer James Owens, Jr. Memorial Intersection” 12 and erect appropriate markers or signs at this location containing 13 this designation. 14 15 Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to 16 the Department of Transportation. 17 XX 18

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