The cotton ginning industry lost a leader and a friend recently. Charlie Owen of Glenbar Gin in Safford, AZ passed away August 23.

Charlie worked in the cotton industry for over 50 years. He worked in many areas of the industry, retiring as owner of Glenbar Gin. He was well known in the cotton industry and well respected throughout the world. He served many roles with the National Cotton Council, the Arizona Cotton Ginners Association and National Cotton Ginners Association. In 1989 he was awarded the Horace Hayden Memorial Trophy as the National Cotton Ginner of the Year. In 2011 he received the Harry S. Baker Distinguished Service Award.

Anyone that has attended a National Cotton Council or National Cotton Ginners Association meeting in the last 20 years will know Charlie. He was very active even as a Past-President helping to start an advisory council for the National Ginners. Charlie’s counsel will be missed.

Charlie had lived in the Safford area for many years prior to just recently retiring and then moving to Tucson. He was very active in this area serving as president on the Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center District Board, as well as being a member of the Gila Valley Rotary.

Charlie is survived by: his wife, Mary Owen; his daughter, Leevon Owen Guerithault; son, Charles Clifford Owen Jr.; as well as many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

There will be a memorial service held on Sept. 11 at 1 p.m. at Glenbar Gin. There will be a second memorial reception held at Vincent’s on Camelback on Sunday Sept. 14 at 2 p.m., with the service to start at 3 p.m.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that a donation be made in Charlie’s name to the: Arizona Cotton Ginners Scholarship Fund, c/o Dwayne Allford, 7474 N. Highway 95, Yuma, AZ 85365.