Edolphus Towns (born July 21, 1934) is an American politician and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing the 10th District of New York (map) based in Brooklyn, and including such communities such as Fort Greene, Bedford Stuyvesant, East New York, and Canarsie. A Democrat, he has served in the House since 1983. Towns was born in Chadbourn, North Carolina and earned his bachelor's degree from North Carolina A & T University and a master's degree in social work from Adelphi University.
Rep. Towns' varied professional background includes work as an administrator at Beth Israel Medical Center, a professor at New York's Medgar Evers College and Fordham University and a public school teacher. He is also a veteran of the United States Army and an ordained Baptist minister.
In the House, Towns serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee and is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus.
He is married to the former Gwendolyn Forbes and they reside in the Cypress Hills. They have two children, Darryl (who serves in the New York State Assembly) and Deidra, five grandchildren; and serve as surrogate parents to his nephews Jason and Jereme.
Preceded by: James H. Scheuer U.S. Representative, New York 11th District 1983-1993 Succeeded by: Major R. Owens Preceded by: Charles E. Schumer U.S. Representative, New York 10th District 1993-present Succeeded by: Incumbent
