SR0061 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0061 LRB102 14499 ECR 19852 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Frederick "Fred" Walton Allen of Peoria, who passed away on January 24, 2021; and

WHEREAS, Fred Allen was born to Frederick William Allen and Laura Josephine (Johnson) Allen in Ripon, Wisconsin on June 10, 1923; he graduated from Ripon High School in 1941 and enrolled in Ripon College; he halted his studies to voluntarily enlist in the U.S. Army Air Force on December 7, 1942; he spent time as a pilot stationed at Keesler Field in Biloxi, Mississippi, the College of Waynesburg in Pennsylvania, the Classification Center at Nashville, Tennessee, Maxwell Field in Montgomery, Alabama, Douglas, Georgia, and Cochran Army Airfield in Macon, Georgia; he received his pilot's wings on August 5, 1944 at Moody Field in Valdosta, Georgia and completed his training with the rank of second lieutenant; with the assistance of the GI Bill, he attended law school for two years at Northwestern University; he was admitted to the Illinois State Bar in 1949; he married Tilley (Derges) Allen at the First Methodist Church of Peoria on July 26, 1952; and

WHEREAS, Fred Allen had a long and distinguished career as a plaintiff's attorney; in 1949, he was hired by the law firm of Louis Knobloch; in 1974, he became the first downstate Illinois lawyer to win a $1 million award for a client, Ford Motors Company; he built his own law firm as a self-made businessman and regularly made time for pro bono legal work; and

WHEREAS, Fred Allen ran for Congress in 1956; he was elected for eight years as the 18th Congressional District State Central Committeeman for the Democratic party; and

WHEREAS, After his $1 million verdict, Fred Allen earned membership into the Inner Circle of Advocates, an elite national group limited to plaintiff's attorneys who had won seven figure awards; at the time of his inclusion, there had been only 55 such awards paid out in the United States and members were limited to 100 nationally; he was a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a fellow of the International Society of Barristers, a fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, and a member of the Board of Governors of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America; he was president of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association from 1974 through 1975, the Peoria County Bar Association from 1979 through 1980, and the invitation only Society of Trial Lawyers of Illinois from 1983 through 1984; he was a fellow and active in the Illinois State Bar Association for more than 50 years; and

WHEREAS, Fred Allen was a member of the Elks Club for more than 70 years; he was a president of the Country Club of Peoria and was also a member of the American Legion, the First United Methodist Church of Peoria, the Union League Club of Chicago, Springs Country Club of Rancho Mirage, California, Old Baldy Club of Saratoga, Wyoming, and the Mascoutin Golf Club of Berlin, Wisconsin; and

WHEREAS, Before World War Two, Fred Allen signed with a farm team of the New York Yankees, where he was known for his fastball; following his military service, he signed a contract as a pitcher with the Papermakers of Appleton, Wisconsin, a minor league affiliate of the Cleveland Indians; while he never realized the dream of becoming a Major League pitcher, he remained a devoted baseball fan; in 2016, a dream of his came true when he watched with his family as his beloved Cubs won the World Series; he especially enjoyed spending time with his daughters, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and their families; and

WHEREAS, Fred Allen was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 66 years; his daughter, Laura Allen Curfman; and his sister, Jane (Allen) Waters; and

WHEREAS, Fred Allen is survived by his two daughters, Diane (Doug) Allen Cullinan Oberhelman and Rita Allen Graves; his seven grandchildren, Kathleen Cullinan (Tyson) Brill, Maureen Cullinan (Christopher) Bennett, Alison Cullinan (Matt) Unkovich, Allen (Laura) Cullinan, Crystal Curfman (Coby) Shaw, Colette Curfman, and Whitney Graves; his 13 great-grandchildren, Austin Brill, Hudson Brill, Cameron Brill, Michael Bennett, Avery Bennett, Luke Bennett, Duane Douglas Cullinan, Mary Michael Cullinan, Frances Cullinan, Duke Unkovich, Tilley Unkovich, Adelaide Lott, and Coleman Lott; and his one great-grandchild on the way at the time of his passing; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Frederick "Fred" Walton Allen and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Fred Allen as an expression of our deepest sympathy.