George E. Allen

George Edward Allen (February 29, 1896 – April 23, 1973) was an American lawyer, businessman, and friend ("poker-playing intimate" and even "court jester" ) for U.S. presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, and Dwight D. Eisenhower. He was also head football coach of Cumberland University's football team during their famed lopsided match against Georgia Tech, losing 222–0.

Background

George Edward Allen was born on February 29, 1896, in Booneville, Mississippi. He earned a law degree (LLB) at Cumberland University in Tennessee. A favorite is his account of the Georgia Tech-Cumberland U. football game in 1916. Cumberland's fullback and captain, George Allen himself, made the best run of the game for his hard pressed side: "I only lost six yards." He would have made one beautiful punt if his own center had not blocked it with the back of his neck. George recalls: "I once dropped the ball and yelled at another fellow: 'Pick it up.' He yelled back at me, 'Pick it up yourself, you dropped it.'" The score: Tech, 222; Cumberland, 0.

George Allen (who was elected to serve as Cumberland's football team student manager after first serving as the baseball team student manager), also a Kappa Sigma fraternity member, put together a scrub team of 14 players to travel to Atlanta as Cumberland's football team and were soundly beaten 222 to 0, saving the college $3,000 in the process. Cumberland would not play football again until 1920.

Head coaching record

WWI During World War I, Allen "wangled himself a commission in the US Army". In 1944, he "latched onto" Harry S. Truman, helped him secure candidacy as vice president, drafted his convention speech, and served as manager of his vice-presidential campaign. of Time magazine on August 12, 1946, and was a subject of the cover story "The Regular Guys."

From 1947 to his death in 1973, Allen was an executive with several business corporations including AVCO, Inc. During the Eisenhower administration, he was part of a group known as "Ike's millionaires."