Not much is known about Herman E. Owen at this time. At the beginning of the 1907 conference in Keokuk there were no plans to make this conference an annual event or organization. By the second session however, a sentiment was growing among the members that it would be nice to form an organization and meet again. Herman Owen was appointed chairman of an organization committee to make the conference a permanent organization. By the final session of the 1907 conference officers were elected of which Herman Owen was a member of the executive committee.

Birge, Edward Bailey. History of Public School Music in The United States.