The daughters of the late Orland Park Mayor Fred Owens said they were thrilled with the board’s decision to rededicate the village hall in their father’s honor.
“Rededicating Frederick T. Owens Village Hall was about more than restoring a name, it was about honoring history and values that built Orland Park,” said Marjorie Owens-Klotz, the middle daughter of Owens’ three daughters.
“Our father believed in preserving the past while building toward the future, and when the previous administration removed the building’s sign, it was as though a piece of our town’s history had been erased.
“On behalf of our family, I want to thank Mayor Jim Dodge, the current village board and the many people who joined us (on Sunday) to celebrate. Your presence and support remind us how deeply this community values its roots and the people who helped shape its future.”
Owens was elected village trustee in 1979 and again in 1983. He was elected mayor in 1985 and re-elected in 1989.
In 1987, Owens is credited with leading the movement that preserved the 1898 Twin Tower Sanctuary of the United Methodist Church when the then-pastor wanted to demolish the building that would later be added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Owens, who was a retired high school teacher, also spearheaded the development of the award-winning Orland Park Village Center Complex in 1989, which included the current eponymous village hall.
Mayor Dodge, fighting back tears he brushed off as “seasonal allergies” called Owens a “selfless, decent man who dedicated more than 20 years of his life to this community.” Dodge served as village clerk for years while Owens was mayor.
“Fred had a wicked sense of humor and was easily approachable and receptive to ideas on making the village better,” he said. “Fred was a colleague and a friend.”