Mayor of Branson for 12 years.
Built the historic Owen's Theater in Branson.
King of the Ozarks Boat Trip
Known as the "King of the Hillbillies"
Jim Owen, "King of Ozark Float Trip', Dies at 68
BRANSON, Mo. (AP) - Jim
Owen, who made Ozark float fishing world famous, died Wednesday at his home in
Branson.
"King of the Ozarks Float Trip," was one of the honorary titles which had been conferred
on him. "King of the Hillbillies," was another.
One of his own favorite lines was: "If you're too busy to fish, your're too busy."
Owen died of an apparent heart attack. He had not been well since he had a massive
stroke while vacationing in Florida in 1966. But he fought back, concentrating particularly
on the writing he had started about floating the rivers of the Ozarks, fishing, and hillbillies. He was 68.
Owen was mayor of Branson for 12 years. He was one of the founders and first president of the Peoples Bank and Trust Co. of Branson. He was owner of the town's first theater.
Much of this was postlude to the main business of his life. He started as a float trip operator in 1933 with six boats and six guides. When he quit in 1958 he had more than 40 boats and about 35 guides.
He didn't quit because he wanted to.
For much of his life, Owen bitterly fought the building of high dams in the Ozarks. When Table Rock Dam was completed near Branson in 1958, it inundated the principal source of his income and joy — the lower White River. But Owen became a convert to the high dams, because they provided a playground for so many more people.
"Put 50 boats on Table Rock Lake and you can hardly find them," he said. "Put 50 boats on the old White River and it was getting mighty crowded."
Owen got national magazines interested in Ozark float fishing and they did big spreads on it.
His own newspaper and magazine articles culminated in a paperback book — "Hillbilly
Humor."
He leaves his wife and a sister, who lives in Branson.
Built the historic Owen's Theater in Branson.
King of the Ozarks Boat Trip
Known as the "King of the Hillbillies"
Jim Owen, "King of Ozark Float Trip', Dies at 68
BRANSON, Mo. (AP) - Jim
Owen, who made Ozark float fishing world famous, died Wednesday at his home in
Branson.
"King of the Ozarks Float Trip," was one of the honorary titles which had been conferred
on him. "King of the Hillbillies," was another.
One of his own favorite lines was: "If you're too busy to fish, your're too busy."
Owen died of an apparent heart attack. He had not been well since he had a massive
stroke while vacationing in Florida in 1966. But he fought back, concentrating particularly
on the writing he had started about floating the rivers of the Ozarks, fishing, and hillbillies. He was 68.
Owen was mayor of Branson for 12 years. He was one of the founders and first president of the Peoples Bank and Trust Co. of Branson. He was owner of the town's first theater.
Much of this was postlude to the main business of his life. He started as a float trip operator in 1933 with six boats and six guides. When he quit in 1958 he had more than 40 boats and about 35 guides.
He didn't quit because he wanted to.
For much of his life, Owen bitterly fought the building of high dams in the Ozarks. When Table Rock Dam was completed near Branson in 1958, it inundated the principal source of his income and joy — the lower White River. But Owen became a convert to the high dams, because they provided a playground for so many more people.
"Put 50 boats on Table Rock Lake and you can hardly find them," he said. "Put 50 boats on the old White River and it was getting mighty crowded."
Owen got national magazines interested in Ozark float fishing and they did big spreads on it.
His own newspaper and magazine articles culminated in a paperback book — "Hillbilly
Humor."
He leaves his wife and a sister, who lives in Branson.
Mayor of Branson for 12 years.
Built the historic Owen's Theater in Branson.
King of the Ozarks Boat Trip
Known as the "King of the Hillbillies"
Jim Owen, "King of Ozark Float Trip', Dies at 68
BRANSON, Mo. (AP) - Jim
Owen, who made Ozark float fishing world famous, died Wednesday at his home in
Branson.
"King of the Ozarks Float Trip," was one of the honorary titles which had been conferred
on him. "King of the Hillbillies," was another.
One of his own favorite lines was: "If you're too busy to fish, your're too busy."
Owen died of an apparent heart attack. He had not been well since he had a massive
stroke while vacationing in Florida in 1966. But he fought back, concentrating particularly
on the writing he had started about floating the rivers of the Ozarks, fishing, and hillbillies. He was 68.
Owen was mayor of Branson for 12 years. He was one of the founders and first president of the Peoples Bank and Trust Co. of Branson. He was owner of the town's first theater.
Much of this was postlude to the main business of his life. He started as a float trip operator in 1933 with six boats and six guides. When he quit in 1958 he had more than 40 boats and about 35 guides.
He didn't quit because he wanted to.
For much of his life, Owen bitterly fought the building of high dams in the Ozarks. When Table Rock Dam was completed near Branson in 1958, it inundated the principal source of his income and joy — the lower White River. But Owen became a convert to the high dams, because they provided a playground for so many more people.
"Put 50 boats on Table Rock Lake and you can hardly find them," he said. "Put 50 boats on the old White River and it was getting mighty crowded."
Owen got national magazines interested in Ozark float fishing and they did big spreads on it.
His own newspaper and magazine articles culminated in a paperback book — "Hillbilly
Humor."
He leaves his wife and a sister, who lives in Branson.
Built the historic Owen's Theater in Branson.
King of the Ozarks Boat Trip
Known as the "King of the Hillbillies"
Jim Owen, "King of Ozark Float Trip', Dies at 68
BRANSON, Mo. (AP) - Jim
Owen, who made Ozark float fishing world famous, died Wednesday at his home in
Branson.
"King of the Ozarks Float Trip," was one of the honorary titles which had been conferred
on him. "King of the Hillbillies," was another.
One of his own favorite lines was: "If you're too busy to fish, your're too busy."
Owen died of an apparent heart attack. He had not been well since he had a massive
stroke while vacationing in Florida in 1966. But he fought back, concentrating particularly
on the writing he had started about floating the rivers of the Ozarks, fishing, and hillbillies. He was 68.
Owen was mayor of Branson for 12 years. He was one of the founders and first president of the Peoples Bank and Trust Co. of Branson. He was owner of the town's first theater.
Much of this was postlude to the main business of his life. He started as a float trip operator in 1933 with six boats and six guides. When he quit in 1958 he had more than 40 boats and about 35 guides.
He didn't quit because he wanted to.
For much of his life, Owen bitterly fought the building of high dams in the Ozarks. When Table Rock Dam was completed near Branson in 1958, it inundated the principal source of his income and joy — the lower White River. But Owen became a convert to the high dams, because they provided a playground for so many more people.
"Put 50 boats on Table Rock Lake and you can hardly find them," he said. "Put 50 boats on the old White River and it was getting mighty crowded."
Owen got national magazines interested in Ozark float fishing and they did big spreads on it.
His own newspaper and magazine articles culminated in a paperback book — "Hillbilly
Humor."
He leaves his wife and a sister, who lives in Branson.
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