Dr. Owen Kiernan was a two-sport athlete at Bridgewater State College in baseball and basketball from 1931-35. Dr. Kiernan was a player-coach for both sports his senior year. He also served as President of the Athletic Association (and in later years as President of the Alumni Association). From 1935-38 he was the principal of the elementary school and coached major sports at the high school in Sandwich, MA. the next six years (1938-44) he served as the Principal of Sandwich High School. His experience as Superintendant of Schools followed in the Wayland/Sudbury/Sherborn/Dover district (1944-51), and in the Milton Public Schools (1951-57).

In 1940 he earned his Master's degree at Boston University. In 1950 Dr. Kiernan received his doctorate from Harvard University. Several honorary doctorates were donferred by universities in later years in humane letters, science, literature, pedagogy and laws. From 1957-69 he held the position of Commissioner of Education in Massachusetts and was the Executive Director the National Association of Secondary School Principals from 1969-80. Among his special assignments he was an education advisor to seven presidential administrations from Eisenhower to Reagan.

Dr. Kiernan passed away in January of 2010 at the age of 95.