[3] Owen earned a juris doctor degree from Howard University Law School in 1962.

[3] Starting in 1965, Owen practiced civil and criminal law in Louisville.

From 1965 to 1969, he served as the first African American assistant prosecutor of Louisville police court, and he was the first African American in Kentucky to hold the position of Assistant Attorney General.

[3] Uwens also served on the Jefferson County Fiscal Court.

He was also the first African American to serve on the fiscal court and county commission in Kentucky.