ALLEN, JOSEPH HUGH (1940 ~ 2008). The following is an obituary for Joseph Hugh Allen, former Member of the Texas House of Representatives. The obituary was published in the May 26, 2008 edition of the Baytown Sun.
"Joseph Hugh Allen, age 68, passed away May 24, 2008, in Baytown, Texas, from complications of Alzheimer’s Disease. Joe was born in Baytown on January 27, 1940, and was a lifelong resident.
Joe was preceded in death by his only son, James Neal Allen, and his parents, James Viron Allen and Mary Azilea Ferguson Allen. He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Kitty Cowan Allen, and their daughters, Sara Allen Abbott of Arlington, Virginia, and Mary Katharine (Kate) Allen Stukenberg of Houston, Texas, and his eldest daughter, Sydney Allen Seaman of Humble, Texas. Two grandchildren, Grace Elizabeth Seaman and Benjamin Allen Abbott also survive. Additional survivors include his three sons-in-law, William Seaman, Matthew Abbott, and William Stukenberg.
Joe was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1966 and honorably served the residents of Texas, Baytown, and East Harris County from 1966 to 1979. Most notably, by serving as a member of the Texas 'Dirty 30,' a bi-partisan group who banded together in 1971 to clean up the scandal- and corruption-ridden state government and successfully launched reforms to restore the public trust and confidence in Texas government. In 1974, Allen served as a Delegate to the Texas Constitutional Convention. During his tenure in the Texas Legislature, Allen chaired the House Committee on Administration, the Property Tax Investigating Committee, and the standing committee on State Finance of the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Joe joined Getty Oil Company in 1980 as Manager of Government Affairs. In 1984, he joined Northern Natural Gas Company, which later became Enron Corporation, as Vice President of State Government Affairs. He retired from Enron as Vice President of Government Affairs – The Americas, in July of 2001.
Mr. Allen held Board positions with the Alzheimer’s Association-Greater Houston Chapter, Alliance for Quality Education, Downtown Houston Association (past chairman), The Energy Council, Galveston Bay Foundation, Greater Houston Preservation Alliance, TUTS (Theatre Under the Stars), Grand Parkway Association, the Natural Gas Group, the Texas Association of Business and the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association. In addition, he also served on the boards of the American Leadership Forum and the Texas Democratic Leadership Council.
Allen was appointed by Governor Mark White to the Interstate Oil Compact Commission in 1983, and was reappointed by the late Governor Ann Richards in 1991. Allen also served on the board of Governor Richards’ New Texas Foundation.
He was a member of the Texas Intrastate Pipeline Association, Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners, Texas Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, Greater Houston Partnership, American Legislative Exchange Council, Center for Public Policy/University of Houston, and the United States-Mexico Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of American Leadership Forum Class VII and an ex-officio member of Central Houston, Inc.
Joe proudly served in the United States Army, Army Security Agency, from 1958 to 1961 on assignments in Japan and the Far East. He was awarded 'Serviceman of the Year' in 1961, earned an Army 'Good Conduct' medal and was honorably discharged.
Joe attended Baytown public schools (1946-1958), was a graduate of Lee College in Baytown where he served as Editor, Lee Lantern, President of Lee College Student Association, and was inducted into the Lee College Hall of Fame. Later, Allen was elected as a Trustee of the Lee College Board of Regents. He also attended the University of Houston where he studied Economics and Political Science.
A visitation will be held on Monday evening, May 26, 2008, from 6-8 p.m. at Crespo & Jirrels Funeral Home, 6123 Garth Road, Baytown, Texas 77520. A celebration of life service will be held at Faith Presbyterian Church, 1715 Market Street, on Tuesday, May 27, 2008, at 2 p.m.
At 2 p.m., Wednesday, May 28, 2008, Joe will be laid to rest at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, Texas. A reception will follow at the cemetery.
Pallbearers are Dale Adams, Hon. Calvin Mundinger, George Strong, James McGilvrary, Gilbert Turrieta, Mark Miller, Patrick Nugent and Emil Pena. The eulogy will be delivered by The Honorable Robert A. (Bob) Gammage.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be considered in memory of Joseph H. Allen to the Alzheimer’s Association – Houston and Southeast Texas Chapter, 2242 West Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77030.
Arrangements entrusted to Crespo & Jirrels Funeral and Cremation Services, 6123 Garth Road, Baytown, 281-839-0700. To view an obituary or post a tribute to the family visit, www.crespoandjirrels.com."
Further information is available through the Texas State Cemetery research department.
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