Athlete 1975 - 1978
A highly decorated four-year football career that included career scoring records as well as conference and national recognition, has culminated with Jeff Owens’ induction into the Linfield Athletics Hall of Fame.
The dual-threat fullback scored 30 touchdowns – 27 rushing and three receiving – and combined with some work on the return team, totaled 1,745 yards of offense by the time he graduated from Linfield in 1979.
Remembered by former head coach Ad Rutschman as a powerful runner and exceptional blocker, Owens was a two-time all-Northwest Conference performer and twice received NAIA All-America honorable mention consideration.
After totaling 85 yards of total offense in occasional rushing, receiving and kickoff return opportunities as a freshman, Owens more than tripled his production as a first-year starter in 1976. He rushed 75 times for 265 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 3.5 yards per carry, and also caught 10 passes for 57 yards.
Steadily gaining experience and confidence, Owens led the Wildcats in scoring in each of his final two seasons.
As a junior in 1977, he totaled 11 touchdowns, rushing for 534 yards (a career-high average of 59.3 per game) and nine touchdowns. He also reeled in 26 passes for 192 yards and two scores. During his senior campaign, Owens scored 15 touchdowns – at the time the second highest single-season total in program history – on 440 rushing yards and 11 receptions for 127 yards.
A three-year starter and four-year letterwinner, Owens was a member of four consecutive Northwest Conference championship teams. The Wildcats amassed a 30-8 overall record, going 23-2 against league opponents, and reached the postseason on three separate occasions.
His junior and senior seasons ended in consecutive heartbreaking one-point defeats in the NAIA semifinals, though Owens did all he could to help the Wildcats advance with a NAIA playoff record-breaking 11-reception performance against Cal Lutheran.
Owens’ career rushing touchdowns record and overall scoring records stood for 17 seasons. To this day, he remains tied for the second most career touchdowns in program history, and ranks among the top 10 performers in three additional career and single-season offensive categories.
While completing a bachelor’s degree in business administration, Owens was an active member of the Theta Chi fraternity.
Graduating in 1979, Owens began a successful and decorated career in the financial industry. After working his way up to a role as General Agent for John Hancock’s Portland-based office, he ventured out on his own. He currently serves as president and owner of the Business Planning Group, which focuses on creating succession plans and exit strategies for business owners.
Maintaining his ties with Linfield, Owens is a strong supporter of the TopCat Club and serves on the President’s Circle Leadership Team. He was also an active member of the Children’s Cancer Association Board of Directors for 11 years.
He and his wife, Malia, make their home in nearby Clackamas, Ore. They are proud parents of two children: Melissa and Jonathan, a 2006 Linfield graduate.
