Joseph Bernard Allen Jr. (1914 - 2006)

Born 10 May 1914 in Key West, Monroe County, Florida

Ancestors

Husband of Marjorie Holladay — married about Jun 1946 in Key West, Florida

Died 12 Feb 2006 at age 91 in Key West, Monroe County, Florida

Biography

Joseph was born in 1914. He was the son of Joseph Allen and Christina Shehee. He passed away in 2006. ^[1]

OBIT & BIO

Joseph B. Allen 1914-2006

Joseph B. Allen Jr., husband, father, committed public servant and known to everyone as Joe Allen, passed away Sunday, Feb. 12, after a brief illness. He was born May 10, 1914, to Bernard and Chrissy (Sheehee) Allen in Key West. He grew up in Key West, leaving only to serve in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He graduated from Key West High School a year earlier than his peers, skipping a grade in order to complete high school and be able to help his family during the years of the Great Depression. His early years of working began with gaining a paper route on Christmas Eve when a paper carrier decided to quit abruptly. He stayed with The Citizen and moved up through the ranks, working for Publisher L.P.Artman, becoming circulation manager at age 21. Within a few years he was business manager.

With the outbreak of WWII in 1941, feeling the call to duty, he joined the Navy and served in the Pacific, primarily in Okinawa. During his Navy years, in addition to his military obligations, he was an avid photographer and helped publish a Navy newspaper. While in the Navy, he met his wife from Columbia, Ky., also serving in the Navy (as a WAVE). They met in Miami and after the war ended, they were married in June of 1946 in Key West, starting their family soon thereafter. He also started a weekly newspaper, the Coral Tribune, along with a printing business that endured for many years.

Soon after returning to his hometown, he looked around Key West and Monroe County and saw things that needed to be done but were not, such as repair of roads and the seawall of South Roosevelt Boulevard. He successfully ran for a seat on the County Commission, beginning what was to be a long career in public service. He served as county commissioner for several terms. He was appointed by the governor in 1956 as tax assessor (now called property appraiser), and he continued in that post for 20 years. In 1976, he set his sights on the Florida Legislature, winning that election. He served in the Legislature until 1986, when he decided that was enough politics. In his entire 40 years in politics, he never lost an election, nor had a close race. Many who knew him were never surprised by his success, pointing out how strong his support was among his constituents and how accessible he kept himself to the people he served.

He maintained an active role in the community through civic and other nonprofit organization. He was a charter member of the Lions Club and served as president on numerous occasions. He was a 33rd degree mason. He was a member of the Old Island Restoration Foundation and the Key West Art and Historical Society. Preservation of Keys history was his passion; he accumulated a wealth of resources on Key West history. He nearly single-handedly saved the West Martello Tower. He brought a dilapidated condemned home on Elizabeth Street, and restored it long before restoration became fashionable.

He was a director of Floriday Keys First State Bank, originally (Key West State Bank), briefly serving as chairman. He continued to serve on the board of directors until recent years. He also helped start what was originally Boulevard Bank, and served on its board of directors.

He was a lifelong member of the Episcopal Church, helping to found Holy Innocents Episcopal Church, which remained active until it merged with St. Paul's Church in 1995.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, four sons, seven grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Funeral services were held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church on Duval Street.

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Sources

No sources. The events of Joseph's life were either witnessed by Lynda Hull or Lynda plans to add sources here later.

Footnotes

1. ↑ Entered by Lynda Hull, Saturday, October 26, 2013.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Lynda Hull for creating Allen-11712 on 26 Oct 13. Click the Changes tab for the details on contributions by Lynda and others.