Bio: Asa Leonard Allen, Winn & Grant Parish Louisiana Source: September 10, 1926 Winnfield News-American Submitted to USGENWEB by Greggory E. Davies 120 Ted Price Lane Winnfield, LA 71483 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** ASA LEONARD ALLEN Principal of the Georgetown High School, 1914-15, 1915-16 Principal of the Verda High School 1916-1917 In Sixth Grade At Age Of 16; At 23 Has A. B. Degree From L. S. U. Some men are a success in spite of their opportunities while some use adversity to an advantage, but whatever achievements may be recorded of the success of any Winn Parish boy none can be more worthy of note and commendation than that of A. Leonard Allen, who between the ages of sixteen and twenty three went from the sixth grade of a one room country school to an A. B. degree from the State University. Whatever might be the state of mind of those folk who would not want to share the knowledge of how such a feat was achieved is neither comprehended or shared by Mr. Allen. Asa Leonard Allen, the son of Asa Levi Allen and Sophronia Perkins Allen, was born January 5th, 1891, about four miles east of Winnfield. The first sixteen years of his life were spent at home with his parents assisting them with the farm work and attending the one room public school nearby 2E It was at the age of sixteen that he entered the sixth grade at the West Union one room public school. The following year he entered the Hudson Holiness College, of which Rev. W. M. D. Gaar was president. This being a private college he had to pay tuition, forty dollars of which was paid by him in the form of work, sweeping the floors of the building each morning. He remained in this school for two sessions, and it was during the time spent here that the turning point of his life was experienced. He stated that he was converted here and was convinced that the laws of God should come first in his life. After leaving Hudson Holiness College Mr. Allen taught school eleven months to get money to pay expenses to the State University for one summer. That summer only made him hunger the more for an education and in the fall of 1911 he enrolled as a regular cadet, being admitted on a First Grade Teachers certificate. Struggles had been his in times past but now came the real test of his mettle. With an abiding faith in his own ability, a will that was indomitable he entered upon four years of hard work with no funds and no one on who he could call, thus he was left on his own resources to work out his own salvation as best he could. Never was determination greater nor efforts more quickly rewarded than was Leonard Allen's for these four years. A struggle, yes. Just so long as work was honest it was honorable and he did it with a characteristic vim that lent dignity to every job that he undertook. He was librarian one summer, night watchman for two terms and washed dishes and waited tables all the time in addition to all the other things he did to pay expenses. At times he had scarcely enough to eat, hungry to the point of desperation, but never giving up, his hope set on a definite objective, and working day and night t attain it. Eating two meals a day for $ 8 per week when three meals would have cost him $ 11 he managed his senior year, 1913-14 at L. S. U. and at the age of twenty three graduated with an A. B. Degree, specializing in social sciences, and leaving a record both in scholarship and industry that would behoove other boys to copy. Mr. Allen was principal of the Georgetown High School, 1914-15, 1915-16, and in 1916-17 was principal of the Verda High School. January 1st, he assumed the duties of the superintendent of education of Winn Parish, having been elected by the Parish School Board to succeed Mr. Jesse J. Mixon As superintendent of schools he characterized his administration by the employment of better trained teachers for both country and town schools an d the standardization of scholarship of the students which two things are having their telling effects today. Much of his success in this work can be attributed to his interest in schools, faith in boyhood ideals, the practice of fair play, a winning personality, and sound business ability. His resignation as Superintendent of Schools became effective December 1st, 1922 and he was succeeded by W. T. Norman. Three months previous, October 1922, however, he had been admitted to the Louisiana Bar and then it was he entered the field of law, the goal to which all his efforts had been directed since seventeen years of age. In this, his chosen profession, he has worked, happy and contented, giving service to his clients until now he enjoys a lucrative and substantial practice. On August 25 is recorded the marriage of Mr. Allen to Miss Lottie Mae Thompson of Bernice. To them have been born two sons, Leonard Harwell, now ten years old, and Lyndon Blaine, age 8. At the age of twenty one Mr. Allen united with the Missionary Baptist Church and since that time has been an active worker in the church. Soon after becoming superintendent of school he was elected by the Winnfield Baptist Church to the superintendency of the Sunday School, which church office he held for three years. As an ordained deacon, zealous in church work, he assisted in the direction of the affairs of the church for the past several years, and at present is the teacher of the Men's Bible class, which has an average attendance of thirty five. Mr. Allen stated that he experienced more pleasure and joy from that service than from any other one thing he could do. "I am just happy to practice law and do my church work, serving my fellow man in those two things successfully I feel I shall be amply rewarded in years to come," Mr. Allen added. Mr. Allen is a member of the Eastern Star Lodge No. 151 F. & A. M., Winnfield Chapter No. 59 R. A. M., K. of P., Odd Fellows, and Rebeccas. To the question as to his political aspirations Mr. Allen stated that at present he had none. "Perhaps within the next few years I shall get in the game but now I am contended with my position as plain citizen. I shall always be interested in schools, all phases of education, in the religious welfare of the country, especially the Sunday School." This last statement savors of the memory of his own struggle for knowledge, for he is firmly convinced that in the lexicon of youth there is no such word as fail. It is said we see life as mirrored through our own conduct also with his discussion of prohibition. "I am bone dry, the driest fellow you have ever heard of, a tee-totaller. I believe prohibition has come to stay, it is good as it is, any person who says prohibition has failed doesn't mean what he is saying. He knows it has been a success. "It can and will be improved upon. The reason that prohibition has come to stay is that the old ones addicted to the habit of drink will soon kill themselves off and we are raising a generation that won't want it or stand for it." Just at this time Mr. Allen turned in his chair and looked up at a picture hanging over his desk. "There is my ideal of a man," pointing to the picture, a likeness of William Jennings Bryan. "Days when I feel discouraged and blue I turn to this picture which always inspires me and seems to urge me on to conquer in life's battles, yes, William Jennings Bryan was a great man, typifying everything that a man should be and do." Mr. Allen would admonish the youth of this day thus, "It's no use waiting for your ship to come in unless you have sent one out."