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Newspaper bids farewell to iconic employee
  
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By ROY N. KENT
Don Allen had his day Thursday … and it was official.
With a proclamation from Pasadena Mayor Johnny Isbell in hand, Allen was bid a fair adieu by scores of family, friends and co-workers Thursday during a luncheon held in his honor at Brady’s Landing.
The proclamation from the mayor’s office declared it Richard Don Allen Day in Pasadena. Allen is retiring from The Pasadena Citizen after 47 years on the job, establishing himself as a constant with the newspaper. He is looking forward to a life in the country.
“I don’t really like the spotlight and don’t seek the spotlight,” he said while address the assembled crowd.
Allen has been a part of local newspaper production since starting with The Pasadena Citizen in 1961. He endured numerous owners, publishers and editors en route to a 47-year career.
His impact on the newspaper was evidenced by the scores of people who showed up to send him off. The turnout was such that The Pasadena Citizen office was left with just a skeleton crew Thursday afternoon as the bulk of the staff attended the festivities.
“I thought what I would do it take a few minutes to tell you a few things you don’t know about me,” he told the audience. “Up until I was 25 years old, legally my name was ‘Infant Allen.’”
At that point, Allen legally changed his name to Richard Donald Allen.
“Yes, my ears have always been this large,” he joked.
The jocular Allen then changed his tone for a brief moment.
“I want to get really serious at this point and from the heart,” he said. “I’ve heard it said that you can measure a man’s success by the number of friends he has.
“If that’s true then I’m the ruler of the world.”
Kevin Berry – president and CEO of ASP Westward, the parent company of The Pasadena Citizen – lauded Allen’s work over the decades.
“Don has spent so much time here and made such an impact … you can see it in your faces,” he said.
Allen’s son, Mark, beamed while speaking of his father.
“I’m just thrilled today,” he said.
Mark Allen spoke of his father’s integrity and fortitude. He also spoke of his joking and giving nature. He ended by reciting a favorite poem of his father’s, “Sermons We See” by Edgar Guest. It includes the lines:
“One good man teaches many,
“men believe what they behold;
“One deed of kindness noticed
“is worth forty that are told.”
Allen has a few days left to work at The Pasadena Citizen before stepping away from his home away from home for the last time.
With a proclamation from Pasadena Mayor Johnny Isbell in hand, Allen was bid a fair adieu by scores of family, friends and co-workers Thursday during a luncheon held in his honor at Brady’s Landing.
The proclamation from the mayor’s office declared it Richard Don Allen Day in Pasadena. Allen is retiring from The Pasadena Citizen after 47 years on the job, establishing himself as a constant with the newspaper. He is looking forward to a life in the country.
“I don’t really like the spotlight and don’t seek the spotlight,” he said while address the assembled crowd.
Allen has been a part of local newspaper production since starting with The Pasadena Citizen in 1961. He endured numerous owners, publishers and editors en route to a 47-year career.
His impact on the newspaper was evidenced by the scores of people who showed up to send him off. The turnout was such that The Pasadena Citizen office was left with just a skeleton crew Thursday afternoon as the bulk of the staff attended the festivities.
“I thought what I would do it take a few minutes to tell you a few things you don’t know about me,” he told the audience. “Up until I was 25 years old, legally my name was ‘Infant Allen.’”
At that point, Allen legally changed his name to Richard Donald Allen.
“Yes, my ears have always been this large,” he joked.
The jocular Allen then changed his tone for a brief moment.
“I want to get really serious at this point and from the heart,” he said. “I’ve heard it said that you can measure a man’s success by the number of friends he has.
“If that’s true then I’m the ruler of the world.”
Kevin Berry – president and CEO of ASP Westward, the parent company of The Pasadena Citizen – lauded Allen’s work over the decades.
“Don has spent so much time here and made such an impact … you can see it in your faces,” he said.
Allen’s son, Mark, beamed while speaking of his father.
“I’m just thrilled today,” he said.
Mark Allen spoke of his father’s integrity and fortitude. He also spoke of his joking and giving nature. He ended by reciting a favorite poem of his father’s, “Sermons We See” by Edgar Guest. It includes the lines:
“One good man teaches many,
“men believe what they behold;
“One deed of kindness noticed
“is worth forty that are told.”
Allen has a few days left to work at The Pasadena Citizen before stepping away from his home away from home for the last time.
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