A&S Outstanding Former Faculty 1998

 William B. Owen

Many budding zoologists were guided toward success by William B. Owen, who taught in the Department of Zoology for 40 years. A graduate of the Universities of Kentucky and Minnesota, Owen worked as instructor in several universities before taking a position as instructor at UW in 1931. During the Second World War, Owen took a leave from UW and was commanding officer of a malaria survey unit, serving in Guadalcanal, the Philippines and Japan. In 1946 he returned to UW as a professor. His national reputation as an expert in mosquitoes grew with his numerous publications, and he served on the editorial board of Mosquito News. Owen also began a program of Summer Institutes that were highly regarded and innovative for his time. Since his retirement in 1971, he has remained an active researcher and continues to have a reputation for careful, thoughtful and sound work.