Retired York County attorney presented with Clemson’s Distinguished Service Award

Retired Attorney, James Henry “Hank” Owen, Jr, is being honored by the Clemson Alumni Association with the Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor that the association bestows upon former Clemson Tigers.

Hank graduated from Clemson University in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. After graduation, he continued his education at the University of South Carolina, receiving his Juris Doctor in 1976.

Hank began practicing law with Al Haselden and established the firm of Haselden & Owen. In 2016, Hank retired from the active practice of law as a partner in the firm of Haselden, Owen & Boloyan.  He served a term as president of the York County Bar Association and as president of the York County Public Defender Corporation. During his tenure with his firm, Hank was active in several civic organizations and served a term as appointed legal counsel for both the US Jaycees and the SC Jaycees. He also served as the attorney for the Clover School District for more than 35 years.

An Eagle Scout, Hank is extremely dedicated to his community having served as past chairman and board member of the York Commission for Technical Education, member and officer of the Clover Jaycees and past president and member of the Clover Rotary Club, the Clover United Way and the Clover Chamber of Commerce. For his dedication to his community, Hank was recognized as Citizen of the Year by the Clover Chamber of Commerce, is a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Club International and was recognized as one of the Three Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) in South Carolina by SC Jaycees.  Hank is also an active member of First United Methodist Church of Clover, where he has served in a number of leadership positions.

During his time at Clemson, Hank was a member of the Clemson University Tiger Band, serving as Sergeant Major, and was a member of the university concert band. He was a member and president of Mu Beta Psi music fraternity and National Vice President of Mu Beta Psi. He was also a member of Sigma Tau Epsilon honorary fraternity.

Since his graduation, Hank has shown his dedication to Clemson through various volunteer roles and financial contributions. He served as the chair to the university Board of Visitors from 2017 – 2018 and continues to reside on the board today. He volunteered on the Will to Lead Capital Campaign subcommittee, the Clemson Alumni Association Board of Directors, the Clemson University Foundation Board, and continues to serve on the Clemson University Tiger Band Association Board. He is also a current member of the York County Clemson Club and Ft. Hill Clemson Club.

In support of Clemson, Hank is a Leadership Circle Donor, a member of the Anna Calhoun Clemson Cumulative Giving Society and the Richard Simpson Cumulative Giving Society. He has been an IPTAY supporter and representative for more than 35 years. His capital gift contributions have impacted the university greatly providing resources to the Tiger Band Plaza, WestZone project, the Larry Penley Golf Facility, Doug Kingsmore stadium and the Duckworth Family Tennis Center. Hank and his wife recently endowed the Hank “73” and Kay “73” Spring Sounds endowment.

The prestigious Clemson Alumni Distinguished Service Award is based on three main criteria: personal and professional accomplishments; dedication and service to Clemson University; and devotion to community and public service. Members of the Clemson family nominate potential winners, who are then selected by the Clemson Alumni Association as outstanding alumni, public servants and examples to others.

Hank and his wife, Kay, have two children, Kathryn Owen Sasser ’99, married to Trey ’98, and James Henry Owen III ’02, who is married to Elizabeth. They have three granddaughters, Mary Alice, Annabel and Lettie. Hank currently resides in Clover, South Carolina.

END

The Clemson Alumni Association, an open-membership, nonprofit organization since its inception in 1896, connects members of the more than 161,000-strong Clemson Family, inspiring pride, celebrating achievement, providing service and strengthening relationships with Clemson University and with each other.  For more information, visit Clemson.edu/alumni.