[1][2] Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Owens grew up in Detroit, where he played on three high school city baseball champions and received a scholarship from the Western Michigan University.

[1] During the summer months while at college, Owens played for the Detroit Stars of the Negro American League in a three-season span from 1953 to 1955.

[3] In one game of those summers, Owens hit a single and struck out in two at-bats while facing the legendary Satchel Paige.

[4][5] Although Owens was considered a reliable pitcher and fierce competitor, he was guided by former Negro leagues star and Detroit resident Turkey Stearnes, who advised him to stay in school.

[4] Eventually, Owens became the baseball coach at Detroit’s Northwestern High School, where he represented a father figure for many of his players.