Archie C. Allen

Archie C. Allen, former Superintendent of Dothan City Schools, died Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2007. He was 89.
Funeral services will be held at First United Methodist Church, Dothan, at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21, 2007, with Dr. Jim Sanders and the Rev. Allie Freeman officiating. Interment will follow in Memory Hill Cemetery with Robert Byrd of Sunset Memorial Park Funeral Home directing. The family will receive friends in the church parlor from 1 until 2 p.m. prior to the services on Friday. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations are made to First United Methodist Church, 1380 W. Main St., Dothan, AL 36303, or to the Dothan Area Botanical Gardens, 5130 Headland Ave. Dothan, AL.
Mr. Allen was born May 8, 1918, in Holtville. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Allen Sr. He was a graduate of Holtville High School and Auburn University. Mr. Allen also received a Master's Degree in Public School Administration from Auburn University. After graduation from Auburn University, Mr. Allen enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he received his flight training. He was commission in the U.S. Marine Corp as a Second Luietient and was station at the Jacksonville, Florida Naval Air Station. He served as a flight instructor at the Pensacola Naval Station for 18 months. After receiving special training in flying F4U Corsairs, he served as a member of the First Marine Air Wing as Squadron leader of VMF-211 and was stationed in Zamboanga, Philippine Islands. Later he was assigned to Peking China to receive the surrender of Japanese troops. For his service, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross and three air medals. He received the American Campaign Ribbon, The Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon with one Bronze Star, The Victory Medal and the Philippine Liberation ribbon with one Bronze Star.
He returned to his hometown and taught Vocational Education before becoming Principal of Holtville High School. Mr. Allen became Principal of Central High School in Phenix City in 1965 and moved to Dothan in 1967. He served as Principal of Dothan High School until 1975 when he assumed the post of Superintendent of Dothan City Schools. Mr. Allen was very proud that during his first two years as Superintendent, all of the Dothan City Schools gained accreditation from the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges. During his tenure, he supervised the building of Northview High School, Honeysuckle and Beverlye Middle Schools. He established the Dothan Vocational Center. Mr. Allen was elected to the Alabama Educational Leadership Hall of Fame.
Active in civil affairs, Mr. Allen served on the Board of Directors of the Dothan-Houston County Chamber of Commerce and he also served as Chairman of the Wiregrass United Way Fund Drive. He served as President of the Dothan Rotary Club and was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow. For many years, he served on the board of the Wiregrass Mental Health System (Spectra Care). He was a member of the Dothan Rose Society and helped to establish the Dothan Area Botanical Gardens. He spent a great deal of time working on the grounds and facilities for the gardens.
At his church, Mr. Allen served many years as a Sunday School teacher and served two years as a Lay Leader. He attended the Wilbur Walton Sunday School class. He was a member of the United Methodist Church Committee for Church Extension. At the time of his death he was an ex-offico member of the Administrative Board. In his leisure time, he was an avid outdoorsman, woodcarver, photographer and gardener.
Mr. Allen is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Elizabeth Martin Allen of Dothan; son Clayton Allen of Dothan; son and daughter-in-law Jim and Patty Allen of Opelika; daughter, Mary Elizabeth Allen Hall of Gainesville, Fla.; three grandchildren, Sarah Beth Snook and husband, Daniel, Benjamin Allen Hall and wife, Leslie, and Jonathan Martin Hall; three great-grandchildren, Hannah Kay Snook, Emily Grace Snook and Ethan Michael Hall; one sister-in-law, Alice Allen; two nephews, Rodney Allen, Andy Allen, and niece, Lynn Allen Hawkins; cousin, Joe Parker Harwell. He loved and cherished his Martin family relatives. He firmly believed that the survival of our country depends on having a strong public school system.
Serving as active pallbearers will be Edwin Martin, Ben Hall, Jonathan Hall, Daniel Snook, Andy Allen, Rodney Allen, Joe Harwell and Scott Helms. Honorary Pallbearers are members of the Wilbur Walton Sunday School class and the Dothan Rotary Club.
Robert Byrd of Sunset Memorial Park, Funeral Home and Crematory, (334) 983-6604, is in charge of arrangements.