Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Dr. O'Dell Owens, a champion of public health and public education in Cincinnati whom we lost last month. He was a longtime friend, longtime activist, longtime Ohioan, a public servant, and a trailblazer. Dr. Owens' story and his unwavering dedication to the public good serves as an example for all us in Southwest Ohio, throughout Ohio, throughout the Midwest, and throughout the country. So much of his work was aimed at empowering young people of color and encouraging them to recognize their potential by staying in school and attending college. He often shared a memory from his year as a ninth grader. A college counselor said he was ``too poor and too dumb to go to college.'' Imagine a counselor saying that. Dr. Owens proved that counselor and everyone who didn't believe in him--he proved them wrong. He graduated from college; he got a masters and a medical degree from Yale University. He completed his fellowship at Harvard Medical School. After gathering degrees and credentials that provided him with opportunities anywhere in the world, Dr. Owens returned to his home in Cincinnati where he spent his career serving his community. He was a pioneering fertility specialist at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. He became the first African American to hold office in Hamilton County when he was elected the county coroner. He served as president of Cincinnati State Technical and Community College.…”