Howard Thomas Owens Jr. graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 1956 and Vanderbilt University School of Law in 1959.
Howard Thomas Owens Jr. represented Bridgeport and Trumbull in the Connecticut State Senate from the old 22nd District, serving for six terms between 1975 and 1989.
While in the State Senate, he served as Assistant Majority Leader, and as Chairman of both the Judiciary and Transportation Committees.
During his Senate terms, he sponsored legislation establishing the Connecticut Appellate Court; was responsible for numerous state and federal highway projects, including the expansion of Route 8; was the main sponsor of drunk driving legislation; and was honored as Mother's Against Drunk Driving's (MADD) Man of the Year.
He was the first chairman of the Bridgeport Legal Services Board of Directors, a former chairman of the Southeastern Fairfield County Chapter of the American National Red Cross, twice chairman of the Bridgeport Charter Revision Commission, a former member of the City of Bridgeport Ethics Commission, a member of the boards of directors of the Food Bank of Fairfield County, Quazar, Bridge House, and St. Luke's Foundation.