Edolphus Towns

Edolphus Towns
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York
In office January 3, 1983 – January 3, 2013
Preceded by	James H. Scheuer
Succeeded by	Hakeem Jeffries (redistricting)
Constituency	11th district (1983–1993) 10th district (1993–2013)
Chair of the House Oversight Committee
In office January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2011
Preceded by	Henry Waxman
Succeeded by	Darrell Issa
Personal details
Born	Edolphus Towns Jr. (1934-07-21) July 21, 1934 (age 90) Chadbourn, North Carolina, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Gwen Forbes
Children	2, including Darryl
Education	North Carolina A&T State University (BS) Adelphi University (MSW)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1956–1958
Edolphus Towns's voice Edolphus Towns honors his retiring House colleague Thomas Manton Recorded October 14, 1998

Edolphus "Ed" Towns Jr. (born July 21, 1934) is an American educator, military veteran, and politician who served in the United States House of Representatives from 1983 to 2013. A Democrat from New York, Towns was Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee from 2009 to 2011.

During his 30 years in Congress, Towns represented districts based in Brooklyn: first New York's 11th congressional district, from 1983 to 1993, and then the 10th district from 1993 to 2013.