Owen Aspinall

Owen Stuart Aspinall
45th Governor of American Samoa
In office August 1, 1967 – July 31, 1969
Preceded by	Hyrum Rex Lee
Succeeded by	John Morse Haydon
Secretary of American Samoa
In office November 1962 – July 31, 1967
Governor	Hyrum Rex Lee
Attorney General of American Samoa
In office 1961 – November 1962
Personal details
Born	(1927-09-21)September 21, 1927 Grand Junction, Colorado
Died	February 7, 1997(1997-02-07) (aged 69) Mesa County, Colorado
Resting place	Orchard Mesa Cemetery
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Taotafa Lutu Aspinall
Alma mater	University of Denver (BA) American University (LLB)
Occupation	Attorney
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Unit	504th Infantry Regiment; 82nd Airborne Division

Owen Stuart Aspinall (September 21, 1927 – February 7, 1997) was an American attorney and politician who served as the 45th Governor of American Samoa from August 1, 1967, to July 31, 1969. He was born in Grand Junction, Colorado; his father was longtime United States Representative Wayne N. Aspinall. After serving in the United States Army during World War II, Aspinall earned his Bachelor of Laws from American University. He served in three government positions before becoming the Governor of American Samoa: the Deputy District Attorney of Mesa County, Colorado; Attorney General of American Samoa; and eventually Secretary of American Samoa, the islands' equivalent of a lieutenant governor.

While governor, Aspinall dealt with a number of issues, including educational system reform and the subsequent resignation of many teachers and school personnel. He signed a bill from the American Samoa Fono that would eventually give American Samoa a Delegate to the United States House of Representatives in the 1980s. He made a number of controversial decisions, including forbidding Korean and Samoan intermarriage. He helped bring an end to extreme violence between Korean and Chinese fisherman in Samoan waters.