An Alumni Moment: Doug Allen

The Allen family is a significant piece of Lees College history. Doug Allen came to Lees College in 1960 after being recognized as an outstanding athlete at Breathitt High School. His oldest brother, Lindberg Allen, had attended Lees and played basketball after his service in World War II. His sister Joyce had graduated from Lees, and his brother Ervine would graduate from Lees and serve in the Vietnam War. Ervine would later work and teach at the college in the latter 1980s and early 1990s. Doug s youngest brother Ronnie graduated from Lees in 1972. Doug s wife, Joann McIntosh Allen, also attended at Lees. Joann went on to graduate from the University of Kentucky and served many years as a teacher in the Breathitt County school system. Doug s son Jeff played basketball at Lees College, and was an all-conference player in 1986. In recognition of this long history, the family established the Alice T. Allen scholarship in memory of their mother. That scholarship is still active today and has helped many students who did not have the financial resources to attend the college otherwise.

Doug Allen played basketball under the legendary Jack Hissom at Lees. Coach Hissom would later coach at Eastern Kentucky University after a very successful tenure at Lees College. Doug graduated from Lees in 1962, and decided to pursue a career with the Lamp;N Railroad. He began working in July 1962 and he retired from CSX in March of 2002 after 40 years of service. Doug worked as a conductor during a period of much prosperity in the region. Allen was very active in the community volunteering as a youth coach in many sports; he was a college and high school basketball official for many years; and he and one of his classmates, Henry B. Combs, became two of the area s most respected officials. Doug Allen has said on many occasions that Lees College provided him with the knowledge and motivation to strive for success. Allen spoke highly of such legendary professors as Dean Frazier Adams and Casey Morton; he loved their classes and the way they involved students in the learning process. Doug Allen will be attending the Lees College Red/White basketball game on October 25 at 6 p. m. in Van Meter Gym. Doug would like to invite all his friends and family to attend that event, as well as the other homecoming celebration activities scheduled for October 26, beginning at 10 a.m.