Alvin Lee (Al) Allen Jr. was a painter whose contributions to Arkansas culture were his artwork, his teaching, his development of the Department of Art at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR), and two autobiographical books
In 1968, when Little Rock University was planning to expand and join the University of Arkansas system to become UALR, Allen was invited to chair and develop the art department. Not only did he teach painting and other studio subjects, he was a teacher and advocate of art appreciation classes for non-majors. He built the department to include full-time faculty with degrees in a variety of studio areas, art history, and art education. He turned the chair responsibilities to others in 1978 but remained an active member of the teaching faculty until he retired in 1992. In 1985, he was given the title of Professor and University Artist-in-Residence.
Son of:
Carrie Allen and Alvin Lee Allen in Steele, Missouri. His father was an automobile dealer in nearby Caruthersville; his mother was a seamstress who later worked for Goldsmith's department store in Memphis, Tennessee.
Allen was raised in Memphis, where his interest in art developed. After graduation from Central High School in 1944, he served in the navy during World War II, using his artistic skills in the top-secret Terrain Model Workshop. Using aerial photographs of Pacific islands, Allen and other naval specialists stationed in Hawaii designed three-dimensional models of sites such as Iwo Jima used to plan invasions.
In 1945, he married Juanita Jowers; they had one child.
Grandsons: Ben, Casey & Jake
After he retired, Allen and his wife lived in Little Rock (Pulaski County), later moving to the Kansas City, Missouri, area to be with their son. He died there on February 14, 2008, and was cremated.
In 1968, when Little Rock University was planning to expand and join the University of Arkansas system to become UALR, Allen was invited to chair and develop the art department. Not only did he teach painting and other studio subjects, he was a teacher and advocate of art appreciation classes for non-majors. He built the department to include full-time faculty with degrees in a variety of studio areas, art history, and art education. He turned the chair responsibilities to others in 1978 but remained an active member of the teaching faculty until he retired in 1992. In 1985, he was given the title of Professor and University Artist-in-Residence.
Son of:
Carrie Allen and Alvin Lee Allen in Steele, Missouri. His father was an automobile dealer in nearby Caruthersville; his mother was a seamstress who later worked for Goldsmith's department store in Memphis, Tennessee.
Allen was raised in Memphis, where his interest in art developed. After graduation from Central High School in 1944, he served in the navy during World War II, using his artistic skills in the top-secret Terrain Model Workshop. Using aerial photographs of Pacific islands, Allen and other naval specialists stationed in Hawaii designed three-dimensional models of sites such as Iwo Jima used to plan invasions.
In 1945, he married Juanita Jowers; they had one child.
Grandsons: Ben, Casey & Jake
After he retired, Allen and his wife lived in Little Rock (Pulaski County), later moving to the Kansas City, Missouri, area to be with their son. He died there on February 14, 2008, and was cremated.
Alvin Lee (Al) Allen Jr. was a painter whose contributions to Arkansas culture were his artwork, his teaching, his development of the Department of Art at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR), and two autobiographical books
In 1968, when Little Rock University was planning to expand and join the University of Arkansas system to become UALR, Allen was invited to chair and develop the art department. Not only did he teach painting and other studio subjects, he was a teacher and advocate of art appreciation classes for non-majors. He built the department to include full-time faculty with degrees in a variety of studio areas, art history, and art education. He turned the chair responsibilities to others in 1978 but remained an active member of the teaching faculty until he retired in 1992. In 1985, he was given the title of Professor and University Artist-in-Residence.
Son of:
Carrie Allen and Alvin Lee Allen in Steele, Missouri. His father was an automobile dealer in nearby Caruthersville; his mother was a seamstress who later worked for Goldsmith's department store in Memphis, Tennessee.
Allen was raised in Memphis, where his interest in art developed. After graduation from Central High School in 1944, he served in the navy during World War II, using his artistic skills in the top-secret Terrain Model Workshop. Using aerial photographs of Pacific islands, Allen and other naval specialists stationed in Hawaii designed three-dimensional models of sites such as Iwo Jima used to plan invasions.
In 1945, he married Juanita Jowers; they had one child.
Grandsons: Ben, Casey & Jake
After he retired, Allen and his wife lived in Little Rock (Pulaski County), later moving to the Kansas City, Missouri, area to be with their son. He died there on February 14, 2008, and was cremated.
In 1968, when Little Rock University was planning to expand and join the University of Arkansas system to become UALR, Allen was invited to chair and develop the art department. Not only did he teach painting and other studio subjects, he was a teacher and advocate of art appreciation classes for non-majors. He built the department to include full-time faculty with degrees in a variety of studio areas, art history, and art education. He turned the chair responsibilities to others in 1978 but remained an active member of the teaching faculty until he retired in 1992. In 1985, he was given the title of Professor and University Artist-in-Residence.
Son of:
Carrie Allen and Alvin Lee Allen in Steele, Missouri. His father was an automobile dealer in nearby Caruthersville; his mother was a seamstress who later worked for Goldsmith's department store in Memphis, Tennessee.
Allen was raised in Memphis, where his interest in art developed. After graduation from Central High School in 1944, he served in the navy during World War II, using his artistic skills in the top-secret Terrain Model Workshop. Using aerial photographs of Pacific islands, Allen and other naval specialists stationed in Hawaii designed three-dimensional models of sites such as Iwo Jima used to plan invasions.
In 1945, he married Juanita Jowers; they had one child.
Grandsons: Ben, Casey & Jake
After he retired, Allen and his wife lived in Little Rock (Pulaski County), later moving to the Kansas City, Missouri, area to be with their son. He died there on February 14, 2008, and was cremated.
Bio by: Thea Goodman
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As constant as the wind
Married February 20, 1945
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