‘He became their spokesperson,’: KCK community activist Chester Owens dies at 91
Chester Owens learned early on that life was hard and to succeed you had to work harder.
Born in Ashdown, Arkansas in 1933, Owens and his seven siblings were raised in a time when the people in his community felt like they had no voice. His family moved to Kansas City, Kansas and found that same feeling: disenfranchised Black residents being unheard and neglected.
This started Owens on a life-long journey for justice that led to him becoming a beloved and respected figure in the struggle for civil rights and KCK community activism. Owens would spend decades of his life fighting for civil rights and equality in business, education and politics within Wyandotte County.
“He gave his life to service for the community and that was his whole quest,” said his daughter, Cynthia Owens-Harris. “That was his life’s ambition and it was never about him. It was about serving the community because some people felt that they didn’t have a voice and he became their spokesperson.”
Owens, a business owner and community activist, died Aug. 22. He was 91.
His daughter says the family is still adjusting to the loss of the man who was the biggest supporter of the community he served, but also of his children.
The family is thankful that he received the recognition from the community prior to his death, showing just how much he his work meant to the people he served.
“We got to see the love and the outpouring of appreciation for all the work and service that he had done in this community,” said his daughter, Karen Owens. “We really are glad that he did get to see how the community felt about him while he was here.”
Their father’s commitment to the community spanned across many organizations. He was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., N.A.A.C.P., the Sickle Cell Anemia Disease Association of America, and was a member of the Advisory Board of the Juniper Gardens Children’s Project.
Both daughters grew up watching their father try to make life better for the people in his community. They believe he wanted to show his children the importance of community engagement and that everyone can do something to help.
“He would always tell us, ‘think globally, but act locally’, ” said Owens, who works as the director of strategic research at Hood Theological Seminary in Salisbury, NC. “He used to say he didn’t think he would live to be past 30 years old because of the risk he took in the fight for justice. He was a responsible risk taker, but it was often he would stand alone in the midst of very chaotic times.”
His children will cherish the many memories they made with their father, because those were the times that helped make them into the people they are today. His daughters say he found time to spend with family and for his community, even with the demands of owning a business — his business was H. W. Sewing & Company, Inc. — and working at the General Motors company.
At General Motors, Owens worked to break the cycle of pay discrimination for Black employees and became the first Black salaried employee for the company in Kansas City, Kansas. According to his daughter, while her father loved history, he never expected to make history.
“I would say a primary love of his was historical research and reading,” said Owens- Harris, who works as the associate dean for public health at Florida A&M University. “In particular, he loved the history of the Black community of Wyandotte County and wanted to make sure that history was told and was not forgotten, but passed down through the generations.”
In 1983, Chester was elected to the Kansas City, Kansas City Council and served two terms. Before his death, Owens and his late wife, were honored by having a street renamed after them and given the key to the city.
Though both daughters are still getting used to life without the man they looked at as a hero and a personal pillar, they will remember the lessons taught and continue to keep his legacy of service alive.
“He was always so jovial and I’ll miss hearing his voice,” said Owens. “He was always intentional about telling us how much he loved us and he will always be with us in spirit.”
He is remembered by his children, Cynthia Owens-Harris and Karen Owens; siblings, Colleen Pilson, Virginia Kirkwood, Frances Haywood, Sandra Owens and William Douglas Owens; along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Other Remembrances
Craig Hall
Craig Hall, teacher and coach, died Aug. 25. He was 84.
Hall was born on Oct. 10, 1939 in Shreveport, Louisiana to Henry Rochester Hall and Julia Hall. At the age of 3, Hall and his family relocated to Kansas City, Kansas. He graduated from Sumner High School and while in school excelled in football, basketball and track.
Later in life, Hall became a history teacher at Sumner High School and coached basketball where he mentored the youth.
In 1964 he married Marca Hall and the couple had two children. They were married for 45 years.
Hall is remembered by his children, April L. Hall-Ke and Gerald Carlton Hall; brother, Gerald Hall; along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Katie Wine
Katie Wine, nurse and mother, died Aug. 11. She was 75.
Wine was born May 28, 1949 in Opelousas, Louisiana to Aaron and Mary Johnson. The family eventually moved to Kansas City to get away from the Jim Crow south.
Wine graduated from Redemptorist Catholic High School and then attended Avila Catholic College before going to the University of Missouri, where she completing a master’s degree in nursing administration.
In 1970 she married Clarence Wine Sr. and the couple spent years traveling the country. The pair moved to Columbia, Missouri where she worked at Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital in Columbia for 45 years.
She is remembered by her children, Kevin Wine and Leslie Wine; siblings, Linda Faye Alexandria, Geneva Miller, Mary Graham, Dorothy Auzanne, Aaron Johnson Sr., Royal Johnson, John Perry Alexandria and Ronald Wayne Alexandria; along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
