The Shreveport Times

Obituaries

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

Bill Allen

HOUSTON, TX- Bill Allen, age 77, a local builder and developer, died June 26 at Silverado Senior Living in Houston, TX.

Bill Allen was born in Mt. Pleasant, TX and graduated from Bossier City High School in 1950. He formed his first building company in 1956 in Shreveport-Bossier City, and moved to Slidell in the early 1960s. He lived in Slidell until 2004 when he moved to Houston, TX.

After moving to Slidell Bill Allen helped form the St. Tammany Division of the GNO HBA. He then served as president of the St. Tammany HBA and president of Louisiana HBA and was a charter member of the Louisiana Home Builders Association (LHBA). For decades, Bill Allen paved the way for the construction of new homes and businesses. As chairman of the LHBA Developers' Council, he worked to have a home builders' warranty law passed by the Legislature. He served as a LHBA national representative and testified before the U.S. Senate on wetland issues. Bill Allen was inducted into the Louisiana HBA Housing Hall of Fame in 1997. He always attributed much of his own success to having listened to others wiser than he.

In his community work, he was a member of the Slidell Noon Lions Club, the Slidell Chamber of Commerce, and a life member of Slidell Little Theater. He also served on the board of trustees at First United Methodist Church of Slidell. In 1974 he was the recipient of the John Slidell Award, which is the highest award given by the Chamber.

He is survived by his wife, Peggy Roberts Allen; two sons, John Allen and Perry Allen; a daughter, Libby Brannen; two step-daughters, Lara Lechler and Maleah Corcoran; five grandchildren and five step-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held July 10 at 10:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church of Slidell.