Gordon B. Allen
Texas
1903-1971
Gordon Allen was born July 1, 1903, in Grand Saline, Texas and died at the age of 67 on January 27, 1971. He was a graduate of the Oklahoma School for the Deaf after which he attended Gallaudet College. Gordon was as well-known writer and organizer of deaf sports activities. He wrote several articles for the old Silent Worker, not known as the Deaf American. He was an active participant in American Athletic Association of the Deaf (AAAD) and at the request of Art Kruger, Gordon established the Southwest Athletic Association of the Deaf (SWAAD) in 1947 with their first tournament held in 1948. He served in various offices of the SWAAD for many years.
At the time of his death, Gordon was a minister to the deaf at Burke Road Church of the Christ in Pasadena. He was a loving husband to Weinona Allen with whom he had three daughters, Menefee Holdren, Gloria Slates, and Lucille Koehl. To the deaf he was a friend, a leader, a man with a fine mind and a good heart, a man of unquestionable integrity. He bought strength, dignity and pride to their ranks. To the church he was a dedicated minister and a radiant example of Christian love and humility. The year prior to his death, Gordon was appointed by the Governor of Texas to a special committee of the Texas Department of Health, Education and Welfare to study the feasibility of funding for deaf students who did not qualify for Gallaudet or could not afford to go to Gallaudet to attend local colleges. After numerous meetings over a period of months, ill health forced him to resign from this committee and he was unable to continue his work on behalf of the deaf community. He has been sorely missed.
