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 | September 21, 1927 Grand Junction, Colorado |
| Died | February 7, 1997 (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.