Breckinridge County KyArchives Obituaries.....Allen, O. J. December 27, 1994 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ky/kyfiles.html ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Peggy Russell meemawpeg7@gmail.com April 6, 2023, 7:27 pm Breckinridge County Herald-News, Hardinsburg, Ky., Wednesday, January 4, 1995 Former Superintendent and Educator, O. J. Allen, Dies The county lost a long time friend of education last week when the former superintendent of the Breckinridge County School District, O. J. Allen, died at the age of 84 on December 27, 1994. Allen was born in Breathitt County, and attended rural schools in his home county. He attended Highland Institute, Guerrant; Lees Junior College, Jackson; Eastern Kentucky Teachers College, Richmond; Bowling Green Business University, Bowling Green, and received a B.S. in 1940 and M.A. from Murray State University in 1957. O. J. Allen began his distinguished career in education in 1935 in a one- room school at Fugate Fork in Breathitt County, and taught in that school district for eight years. In 1941, he assumed a teaching and coaching position at Blandville High School in Ballard County. His first administrative position came in 1942 when he became principal. He coached basketball one year at Matthews, Missouri before returning to Kentucky as principal and coach at Cunningham High School in Carlisle County. During his tenure as coach, his teams won several district basketball tournaments and competed in regional play. In 1957, Allen came to Fordsville in neighboring Ohio County as a principal and coach. He was selected as the superintendent of the Breckinridge County School District in August of 1958. During his sixteen years in that position he led the district through consolidation with a new high school being constructed in 1965 at Harned and the six elementary centers were upgraded. A vocational school was constructed to serve the students of the county. Allen was a strong advocate for students and teachers and was instrumental in obtaining grants and federal monies for the district. He promoted such programs as Chapter 1 and Head Start which continue today in the schools of the district. Allen served on the Region 5 Vocational Advisory Committee for twenty years, the Breckinridge County Vocational School Steering Committee through the school's entire 25 year history, and the State Committee for Vocational Education. Allen was instrumental in the establishment of the Elizabethtown Community College, and served on the institution's board of directors. He was an active member of the Breckinridge County Retired Teachers and the Breckinridge County Education Association. The association established the O. J. Allen Scholarship Fund in his honor which helps students from the district attend college each year. Allen served on the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission for senior citizens and the Lincoln Trail Area Agency for Aging. He was a Master Mason of Breckinridge Lodge #67 in Hardinsburg. He was a member of the Presbyterian faith and attended Hardinsburg Baptist Church where he taught Sunday School for a number of years. O. J. Allen was the son of the late Ethan and Elizabeth Combs Allen, and was born on October 20, 1910 in Breathitt County. He is survived by: his wife, the former Ruth Wallis two daughters and sons-in-laws: Maura and John Armes of McQuady Jeanne and Roy English of Murray 5 granddaughters 2 step-granddaughters one great granddaughter one step-great granddaughter one brother: Ethan Allen of Waverly, Ohio one sister: Eva Campbell of Clayhole A son, Phillip Allen, preceded him in death. Pallbearers were: Huston DeHaven Ralph Tucker Calvin Lucas Bob Bosley Bud Bell Frank Owen File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ky/breckinridge/obits/a/allen12267gob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/kyfiles/