Fall 25 OP Newsletter

COMMUNITY PRIDE

A lifelong educator and historian, Owens taught geography and history and often led tours for the Orland Historical Society, sharing his passion for the area’s heritage. His dedication to preservation was perhaps most memorably demonstrated in 1987 when he intervened to save the historic Twin Tower Sanctuary of the Methodist Church in Old Orland from demolition. Working with the Village’s planning department, Owens established the Old Orland Heritage Foundation to restore and preserve the landmark. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989, three years before his passing. Owens passed away in 1992 at the age of 54

following a battle with kidney cancer. Later that year, the Village Board unanimously voted to dedicate Village Hall in his honor. The Twin Tower Sanctuary he helped preserve was coincidentally rededicated on May 3, 2002, the tenth anniversary of his death. Today, the Owens family’s multigenerational roots remain strong in Orland Park. His children, grandchildren and great grandchildren continue to take pride in his legacy and in the community he helped shape. “Mayor Owens’ vision and leadership left an indelible mark on Orland Park,” said Mayor Dodge. “From modernizing local government to championing responsible growth and historic preservation, his impact is still felt today. It is only fitting that Village Hall bears his name.”

orlandpark.org | Fall 2025 |

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