Richard Allen

Better known to his friends as Dick, and as Dickie Boy to his grandchildren (a nickname affectionately given to him as a child by his mother), Dick was born on the 12th of August 1924, in Tyler, Texas to Bess Foreman Allen and Richard Davis Allen.

Upon graduating John Tyler High School, Dick attended Baylor University. After his freshman year at Baylor and at age 19, Dick enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp and entered WWII. It was during pilot training at Cochran Field near Macon, Georgia that he met Nan, a student at nearby Wesleyan College. A nearly 70 year love affair followed which was the envy of many. After earning his wings, Dick was stationed in Spinnazola, Italy as a member of the 15th Air Force. It was there as a brave 20 year old B-24 Liberator pilot, Dick successfully completed 26 bombing missions over central Europe.

At war’s end, Dick and Nan were married June 26, 1946 in Nan’s hometown of Union Springs, Alabama. The young couple then moved to Austin where Dick earned his law degree from The University of Texas. Dick was a proud member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity, Tau Chapter where he made many lifelong friends.

After graduation, Dick moved to Tyler for a short stint in the Smith County District Attorney’s office, followed by five years in the FBI where he was hand-picked by J. Edgar Hoover to serve as a special agent. It was during the FBI years that Nan and Dick began their family. Following his FBI days Dick pursued a career in the mortgage business, first with American General and later South Coast Life in Houston. A forty plus year career in the Banking/Savings and Loan industry followed.

In the mid 1960’s, during the infancy of the NASA space program, Dick and Nan and family moved to the Clear Lake area. It was there Dick founded Clear Lake Savings Association (eventually Cullen Savings) and served in many volunteer capacities in the community. Bay Area Rotary, President; Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce, President; Clear Lake Rendezvous Festival, King; Lakewood Yacht Club, Commodore, to name a few. Above all, Dick Allen was a Man of God. Dick and Nan were both charter members of Pines Presbyterian Church, Houston and Clear Lake Presbyterian Church, holding early organizational meetings for each in the living rooms of their respective homes.

Dick was a friend to all, young and old. He was the ultimate people person. Dick was an avid quail hunter and lover of the Great Outdoors. He had a certain passion for bird dogs and owned many over the course of his life. He loved his days spent at his hunting lease near Skidmore, Texas with his friends, family and of course his dogs. He and Nan loved to travel and explore new places. They traveled the world extensively both by land and by sea.

Although Dick was a lover of history, he did not dwell in the past. An inquisitive and avid reader, he was a lover of sports, politics, financials and any and all current events of the day; reading the daily newspaper cover-to-cover seven days per week.

The family wishes to thank The Methodist Hospital ICU team for the attention, kindness and care extended to our Dickie Boy. A special thank you to Dr. Siddiqui and the entire nursing and management staff as well.

A special thank you to Adriana Ponce, Thedies Broussard and Robert Moreno for their kind care and friendship.

Dick was preceded in death by his wife Nan, the “absolute” love of his life, and two sons, Jack and Johnny (“The Twins”). He is survived by three loving children, Milton Edwards Allen and wife, Dorothy, of Kingwood; Amanda Allen Dwyer (Sister) and husband, Steve, of Houston; and Andrew Collins Allen and wife, Julie, of San Antonio; six grandchildren, four great grandchildren (with one on the way) and a host of other relatives and an extraordinary wealth of wonderful friends.

A memorial service celebrating Dick’s life is to be conducted at high Noon on Thursday, the 7th of September, at Lakewood Yacht Club, 2425 NASA Parkway in Seabrook. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception to be held at the Yacht Club.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be directed to the Pines Presbyterian Church, 12751 Kimberly Ln., Houston, TX 77024; or to the charity of ones’ choice.