MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2016 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Blackwell, Barnett, Burton, Fillingane, Frazier, Jackson (11th), Jackson (32nd), Massey, McDaniel, McMahan, Parker
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE SERVICE AND CAREER OF DECORATED WORLD WAR II VETERAN, FORMER OLIVE BRANCH ALDERMAN, DESOTO COUNTY SUPERVISOR, COMMUNITY LEADER AND SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSMAN BILLY GRAY "BILL" ALLEN AND EXTENDING THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE LEGISLATURE TO HIS SURVIVING FAMILY ON HIS PASSING.
WHEREAS, it is with sadness that we note the passing of decorated World War II Veteran, Alderman, Supervisor and DeSoto County Community leader and businessman Bill Allen on February 10, 2016; and
WHEREAS, Billy Gray "Bill" Allen was born on September 21, 1924, in Cockrum, Mississippi. His parents were William H. "Will" Allen and Edith Nora French Allen. Mr. Allen grew up in Cockrum and attended high school in Olive Branch, where he graduated in the spring of 1942. After graduating from Olive Branch High School, he joined the United States Army Air Force at the age of 18 years old. He completed training at the Army Air Force Gunnery School and was assigned to the 457th Bombardment Squadron of the 330th Bomb Group on the eleven-man crew of a Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber called the City of San Jose. He was stationed on the island of Guam in the North Pacific and he flew on numerous bombing missions over Japan during his tour of duty. He was honorably discharged in February 1946, at the rank of Staff Sergeant after receiving the U.S. Army Air Medal; and
WHEREAS, in 1949, Mr. Allen met Marthola Smith while working on a construction job in Dresden, Tennessee, and were married in September of that year. Their marriage lasted 64 years, until Marthola's death in March 2013. The couple have two daughters, Dr. Edith Robinson and Mrs. Ellen Haraway; four grandchildren: Mrs. Leigh Ellen Robinson Doddridge, Mrs. Maggie Robinson Yacoubian, Mrs. Lucia Haraway Nelson, and Dr. Neil Haraway; and 10 great-grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Allen had served the Olive Branch community in numerous ways throughout his life. He was elected Deacon in the First Baptist Church of Olive Branch in 1959 and served as Deacon Emeritus there until his death. He was on the Olive Branch Board of Aldermen for 4 years; he represented Olive Branch on the DeSoto County Board of Supervisors for 8 years; and he was instrumental in starting the Olive Branch Volunteer Ambulance Service where both he and his wife, Marthola, served as volunteer first responders on the ambulance for 15 years. Additionally, he was a charter member of the Olive Branch Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of the Rotary Club from its inception in Olive Branch, and was presented the Rotary Club's Paul Harris Fellow Award in 2013. Mr. Allen was also a charter member of and helped organize the Olive Branch Country Club in the early 1960s. He served as Director of the Olive Branch Christmas Parade for 10 years, and he and Mrs. Allen were named as Co-Grand Marshals of the parade in 1998; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Allen was a successful businessman in Olive Branch for over 50 years. He was co-owner of the Allen-Davidson Lumber Company in Olive Branch for several years and a partner in Almac Construction Company. Almac built over 150 new homes in and around Olive Branch from 1970 to 1990; and
WHEREAS, because of his legacy of dedicated service to the Olive Branch community, Mr. Allen was selected for induction into the Olive Branch Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony for him and four other inductees is scheduled for this April; and
WHEREAS, we pay tribute and cherish fondly the memory of this most public-spirited citizen of Mississippi who leaves a legacy of military and public service and business leadership in his community and state:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby pay tribute to the service and career of decorated World War II Veteran, former Olive Branch Alderman, DeSoto County Supervisor, Community Leader and successful businessman Billy Gray "Bill" Allen and extend the profound sorrow of the Legislature to his surviving family on his passing.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of Bill Allen, forwarded to the Olive Branch Board of Aldermen and the DeSoto County Board of Supervisors, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.