Lewisville will be observing a day of remembrance for the late former City Manager Chuck Owens, with city flags at municipal buildings scheduled to fly at half-staff this Saturday, per orders from Mayor TJ Gilmore. Owens, who passed away last Tuesday, was esteemed for guiding Lewisville through a period of significant growth and prosperity. His memorial service is set for Saturday in Bowie, according to the City of Lewisville, Texas.
Per a statement from the Mayor, "Chuck Owens led the city through an incredibly dynamic time in our growth,” adding, “Without his leadership, we would not have the economic and governmental stability that Lewisville enjoys today. Chuck planted the economic trees whose shade we enjoy today.” Owens’ tenure as City Manager from 1985 to 1998 corresponded with a near doubling of the area's population, now at 69,200, as cited by the City of Lewisville, Texas.
Owens’ notable achievements included modernizing financial policies and the establishment of capital improvement plans for city infrastructure, work that has contributed to Lewisville's current triple-AAA bond rating. According to current City Manager Claire Powell, Owens’s strategies for managing the city's finances and infrastructure are still in effect almost 40 years later, helping to sustain the city's financial health through conservative fiscal practices.
Before his role in Lewisville, Owens, an Oklahoma native and Vietnam veteran, served as Deputy City Manager in Ft. Lauderdale starting in 1980. Owens left behind a heritage of leadership and mentorship. Former Mayor Ann Pomykal shared, as per the City of Lewisville, Texas, “He brought a vision of strength and determination that set the stage for our community for years to come.” Owens worked alongside four mayors and had a direct hand in hiring individuals who later would become city managers themselves, illustrating a legacy of influence and stewardship within the community.
Surviving Owens are his wife, Sandy, their sons Richard and Scot, along with their families. He was a dedicated participant in both the International and Texas City Management Associations and a committed member of Rotary International. The city of Lewisville mirrors the structured growth and communal stability that Owens so diligently worked to achieve during his 13 years as city manager.
