Alvin Owen was born Dec. 4^th, 1931 in Houston. His parents made their home in Liberty, TX where he entered grade school. His family moved to Pasadena, TX when he was in 6^th grade and he graduated from Pasadena High in 1950. Al attended Baylor University that same year and graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Music Education in 1954,

He taught Band for one year in Groesbeck, TX before entering the US Air Force in 1955. Al was separated from the Air Force in 1970 and for a time operated a retail store and then was manager of a church camp all in Colorado,

Mr. Owen began his career with Federal Civil Service in Colorado in 1978 and was transferred to Goodfellow AFB in April 1986. While in Colorado, Mr. Owen returned to college, University of Northern Colorado, and earned a Masters Degree in Business Administration in 1982.

Al became a Lion in 1987, serving as club president, zone chairman, and membership chairman. He is a Melvin Jones Fellow, Jack Weich Fellow, and Century Club Member.  He retired from Civil Service in 1997 after spending a combined 45 years in the military and Federal Civil Service. Upon retiring, Al found interest in the Lions Eyeglass Recycling Program. He managed the program in San Angelo for several years, giving it up to become Governor of the local Lions District in 2000.

He has worked in the District’s Acuna, Mexico, Lions Eye Clinic since 1997. His work has been to maintain an inventory of glasses at the clinic and help the Ophthalmologist by finding and fitting recycled glasses that match the examination prescription.

Lion Owen is the Immediate Past President of San Angelo Lions Charities, Inc, overseeing the renovation of a portion of the former Shook Tire Building at 27 West Concho Street to be used as the San Angelo Eyeglass Recycling Center.

He married his first wife, Elizabeth, in 1955 and they have four grown children and 11 grandchildren. Elizabeth died in October 1999.

Al married his second wife, Billie Dye-Owen, on a cruse after the Lions International Convention in Hawaii, on June 29^th, 2000. Billie has two grown sons and one grandson. He was first District 2-A1 Gov. in 2000-01 and is serving a second term 10 years later.