HEGGS, OWEN L. (1 Oct. 1942-17 April 1993) was a partner in the law firm of JONES, DAY, REAVIS & POGUE, a trustee of CUYAHOGA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, and a civic activist.
Born in Cleveland, Heggs attended Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, and St. Cecilia Catholic schools. He graduated from Cathedral Latin High School in 1960, received his B.A. from Howard University in Washington, D.C. in l964, and his J.D. from Western Reserve University Law School in 1967.
After passing the Ohio bar in 1967 Heggs began his legal career with the firm of SQUIRE, SANDERS & DEMPSEY. In 1968 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving as a military lawyer in Vietnam. Heggs served as an assistant to Congressman Louis Stokes during 1970-1971 and chaired Stokes's 1972 re-election campaign. After breaking with Stokes Heggs ran unsuccessfully against Stokes in 1976. Heggs joined CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY in 1974 as an associate professor of law and director of its clinical law programs. In 1979 he joined Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue becoming a member of the firm's minority hiring task force.
In 1973 Heggs joined the URBAN LEAGUE OF GREATER CLEVELAND as president and chairman. He was co-founder and acting chairman of the Council of Affiliate Presidents of the National Urban League. Heggs was appointed a trustee of Cuyahoga Community College in 1987, serving as chairman in 1991-1992.
Heggs married Sharon E. Milligan on 3 March 1984. They had two children, Peter and Sarah.
View image at Cleveland Public Library.
Borowitz, Albert. Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue: The First Century (Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue, 1993).