Born: April 3, 1932
Died: August 17, 1997
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Year of Induction: 2004
High School Career
Southside Catholic High School, St. Louis, MO (1945-1949)
• Multi-sport letterman
College Career
Southern Mississippi (1953-1956)
• Sun Bowl (January 1, 1954: lost to Texas Western 37-14)
• Sophomore All-America Team (’54)
• All America, Williamson National Football Rating System (’55)
• Tangerine Bowl (’56: lost to West Texas State 20-13)
• Helms Foundation All-America Team (’56)
• AP First Team, Little All-America Team (’56)
• East-West Shrine Bowl (’56)
• Senior Bowl Champion (’57)
• Outstanding Lineman Senior Bowl, South team, (’57)
• Chicago College All Star game (’57)
• Southern MissFootball Team of the Century (’02)
Professional Career
Washington Redskins (1957)
Philadelphia Eagles (1958-1960)
St. Louis Cardinals (1960-1963)
• 3rd round draft choice (30th overall), Pittsburgh Steelers (’57)
•Football scout for St. Louis Cardinals and Green Bay Packers (1964-1966)
Coaching Career
Southern Mississippi (1967-1968)
• Defensive line coach and defensive cooridinator
Hall of Fame Memberships
• USM Athletic Hall of Fame (1966)
• Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame (2004)
Did You Know?
Don Owens was named to the St. Louis Team of the Millennium in 1999. He was voted no. 62 out of 100 players covering all athletics teams (college or pro) from the St. Louis area by a vote of fans and sports celebrities. He was also named St. Louis Labor Man of the Year in 1992. Don Owens was awarded the Purple Heart in the Korean War. Don Owens Day was held at the University of Missouri’s Faurot Field on November 7, 1998.
