Gordon P. Allen
Encyclopedia
Gordon Phillip "Joe" Allen (April 29, 1929 – December 23, 2010) was a Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly
and an insurance professional from Roxboro, North Carolina
.
After graduating from Mars Hill College
, Allen served in the United States Army
during the Korean War
and then served in the North Carolina National Guard
.
Allen was elected to three terms in the North Carolina Senate
, serving from the beginning of 1969 through the end of 1974. In just his second term, Allen rose to the highest rank of Senate leadership when he was elected President Pro Tem
and simultaneously Majority Leader. He was re-elected to a second term as Senate leader for the 1973-1974 General Assembly.
After leaving the legislature, Allen spent 20 years lobbying for the N.C. Bankers Association. Then, he was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives
in 1997, serving until 2005. He represented the state's fifty-fifth House district, including constituents in Orange
and Person
counties.
Allen was also the first chairman of the board of trustees for Piedmont Community College
.
He was a father of five children and grandfather of seventeen grandchildren. One granddaughter was named Rachael Gordon after her grandfather.
North Carolina General Assembly
The North Carolina General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of North Carolina. The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina, also known as the General Statutes...
and an insurance professional from Roxboro, North Carolina
Roxboro, North Carolina
Roxboro is a city and the county seat of Person County, North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the city of Roxboro has a population of 8,362. The city is 30 miles north of Durham, NC. It is part of the Durham-Chapel Hill Metropolitan Area.-History:...
.
After graduating from Mars Hill College
Mars Hill College
Mars Hill College is a private, coed, liberal-arts college affiliated with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. The college is located in the small town of Mars Hill, North Carolina, due north of Asheville, western North Carolina's largest city...
, Allen served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
and then served in the North Carolina National Guard
North Carolina National Guard
The North Carolina National Guard consists of the:*North Carolina Army National Guard*North Carolina Air National GuardThe NCNG is an all-volunteer force of nearly 12,000 soldiers and airmen who serve in both federal and state capacities...
.
Allen was elected to three terms in the North Carolina Senate
North Carolina Senate
The North Carolina Senate is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly.Its prerogatives and powers are similar to those of the other house, the House of Representatives. Its members do, however, represent districts that are larger than those of their colleagues in the House. The...
, serving from the beginning of 1969 through the end of 1974. In just his second term, Allen rose to the highest rank of Senate leadership when he was elected President Pro Tem
President Pro Tempore of the North Carolina Senate
The President Pro Tempore of the North Carolina Senate is the highest-ranking officer of one house of the North Carolina General Assembly. The President of the Senate is the Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina, but the President Pro-Tem actually holds most of the power and presides in the...
and simultaneously Majority Leader. He was re-elected to a second term as Senate leader for the 1973-1974 General Assembly.
After leaving the legislature, Allen spent 20 years lobbying for the N.C. Bankers Association. Then, he was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives
North Carolina House of Representatives
The North Carolina House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the North Carolina General Assembly. The House is a 120-member body led by a Speaker of the House, who holds powers similar to those of the President pro-tem in the state senate....
in 1997, serving until 2005. He represented the state's fifty-fifth House district, including constituents in Orange
Orange County, North Carolina
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 133,801. Its county seat is Hillsborough...
and Person
Person County, North Carolina
Person County is a county located in the Piedmont region in north-central North Carolina in the United States. It is part of the Durham-Chapel Hill Metropolitan Area. The population was 39,464 at the 2010 census.The county seat is Roxboro...
counties.
Allen was also the first chairman of the board of trustees for Piedmont Community College
Piedmont Community College
Piedmont Community College is a multi-campus two-year post-secondary institution in Person and Caswell counties in North Carolina. It serves approximately 60,000 residents in the rural area, and is one of fifty-eight schools in the North Carolina Community College System.Current student enrollment...
.
He was a father of five children and grandfather of seventeen grandchildren. One granddaughter was named Rachael Gordon after her grandfather.