DeKALB | Friends, colleagues and students of Walter Owens filled the Sky Room of the Holmes Student Center on Tuesday to say their final farewells at his retirement celebration.

Owens has been at NIU for 34 years, serving as an assistant kinesiology professor, baseball coach and assistant men’s basketball coach, as well as a civic leader, an active supporter of the CHANCE program and mentor according to friends and colleagues.

Students attended the celebration when they had a break in their schedules and shared their thoughts on Owens.

“I have a lot of respect for him in the little time that I’ve known him, but I regret that I didn’t get to know him better,” said junior English major Matt Albrecht. “He’s very admirable. He’s not only an educator, but he’s like a saint.”

Other students got the opportunity to get to know Owens not only as an instructor, but also on a more personal level.

“He was like a father figure,” said junior public health major Tiffany Shegog. “He was always looking out for me and as far as helping me succeed in college. He was there for me.”

In addition to his 34 years at NIU, Owens pitched and played outfielder for the Negro League baseball team, Detroit Stars. He was also Detroit’s Department of Recreation Baseball School Director for 19 years and was a Detroit public school teacher for 19 years.