(July 28, 1935 – May 27, 2016)
Service Information
Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. on Monday, May 30, at the Stephenville Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, May 31, at the Stephenville Funeral Home Chapel with burial to follow in the Desdemona Garden of Memories.
Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 pm Tuesday, May 31, 2016 at the Stephenville Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow at the Desdemona Cemetery in Desdemona. The Family will receive friends from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm Monday at the funeral home
Coach Allen was born on July 28, 1935 In Ranger to the late Robert and Bea Needham Allen. He married the love of his life, Linda Ann Greenhaw on July 29, 1966. Jack graduated from Sam Houston State University earning his Bachelor of Science in 1963 and a Masters in 1973.
Jack’s coaching career began in 1963 at Ranger Junior College where he coached for 23 years earning numerous awards, including two national championships in 1973 and 1978. His 1975 team finished fifth and his 1976 team finished third in the nationals. He also won seven regional championships and nine conference titles. Coach Allen was elected into the 1986 Junior College Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame, and NJCAA and the ABCA Baseball Coach of the Year in 1973 and 1978. After retiring from Ranger Junior College, Allen took three years off before taking over the Tarleton State University Head Coach in 1989. “I missed the association with the kids and I missed the competition,” Allen said. He led the Texans to consecutive 40-win seasons and was named the NAIA District 8 and Area II Coach of the Year in 1992. Coach Allen earned his 1000th career win in 1995 and led Tarleton to its first NCAA II Regional Playoff. Jack earned many awards while coaching at Tarleton before his retirement in 2002. Of all the awards that Coach Allen earned, he will be remembered as a great coach and father figure to his players whom he loved and who loved him.
Coach Allen was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Assoc. Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Tarleton State Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2009.
Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Linda Ann Allen of Lake Leon; mother-in-law, Dorothy Greenhaw of Desdemona; brother-in-law, Morris Greenhaw and wife Pat of Desdemona; nephew, Brandon Greenhaw and wife Karen of Glen Rose; niece, Diana Greenhaw of San Francisco and great-nephews, Evan and Marcus Greenhaw.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Bobbie Lee Gunn.
Memorials may be made to the Foster’s Home for Children in Stephenville.
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