Francis Owen
Francis Owen was born September 6, 1886 in Saltfleet, Ontario to parents Sarah and Edward Owen.Educated at the University of Toronto and the recipient of a 1907 Governor General’s Medal, Owen earned a BA (1907), an MA (1909), and an Education Diploma (1910) before going on to earn a PhD (1926) from the University of Chicago and undertaking post-graduate work in Marburg (1908), Leipzig (1910), and Kiel (1932-33).
Owen was in military service during both World Wars. From 1914-18, he was a lieutenant with the 1st Canadian Division and with the 14th Battalion of the 3rd Brigade of the Royal Montreal Regiment. In 1918, he was part of the training staff of the Young Soldiers’ Battalion. During World War II, he was a major (1940-45) and later served as lieutenant colonel officer-in-command (1945-47) of the University of Alberta Division of the Canadian Officers’ Training Corps.
An instructor of German at Victoria College at the University of Toronto from 1908-14, Owen, in 1919-20, was a modern language instructor for returned soldiers’ preparatory matriculation classes at the university.
Owen joined the University of Alberta in 1920, launching a career that spanned just over three decades. He served the University as a lecturer of German (1920-24), an assistant professor of modern languages (1925-26), an associate professor of modern languages (1926-36), a professor of German and of modern languages (1936-52), and head of the Department of Modern Languages (1947-52). Owen was named a Professor Emeritus of Modern Languages in 1952.
Owen married Doris Garrison and had a son, William.
Owen passed away December 22, 1975 in Edmonton, Alberta.