USF Notable Grace Allen Dies At 99

By CHRIS ECHEGARAY The Tampa Tribune

Published: Dec 17, 2007

TAMPA - Grace Allen, considered one of the best ambassadors for the University of South Florida during its meager beginnings, died Sunday. She was 99.

Allen, wife of USF's first president, John S. Allen, died just before noon at St. Joseph's John Knox Village.

"She was the best spokesperson the university ever had," former USF President Betty Castor said. "She was there from Day One. She was the one stream of knowledge from the early days. Grace will be terribly missed."

Castor, USF president in the 1990s, said Allen witnessed the growth of the university while Allen's husband was the longest-serving USF president and would speak about USF's origins and its temporary offices.

Grace Allen also left her mark by starting the University of South Florida Women's Club.

In July 1960, she invited every USF wife and female staff member to come to her home, according to USF spokesman Ken Gullette. Together, they established the club, which continues to this day as a social, cultural, and charitable volunteer organization.

The club raised money to endow the Grace Allen Scholarship in 1994, and it awarded 119 full-tuition scholarships within its first 10 years.

The club also created another endowed fund in Allen's name to provide additional funding for the university's library. In October 1996, USF awarded her an honorary degree of doctorate of humane letters.

Former U.S. Rep. Sam Gibbons said Allen was part of USF's first family. Allen worked closely with her husband, who also served as president of University of Florida, Gibbons said.

"She was an integral part of the university," he said. "She was always at Dr. Allen's side. She spoke her mind and gave good counsel. She was a very nice person."

Grace Carlton Allen was born in North Dakota on June 20, 1908. She spent her childhood in North and South Dakota. She attended the University of South Dakota and the University of Minnesota, where she majored in English and secondary education.

She met John Allen at the University of Minnesota, and they were married in 1933. The couple came to USF from Gainesville in 1957, a year before the university had a name and three years before the first classes, according to USF.

In a statement, USF President Judy Genshaft said Grace Allen was important to the university's development.

"USF's heart is broken today, because we've lost a woman who has been the core of the university's founding," Genshaft said. "She was a model first lady during the time USF was born, and she continuously remained connected to the university.

"Allen brought critical social graces, and some keen and clever behind-the-scenes persuasiveness," Genshaft said in the statement. "She was highly intelligent, remarkable memory, supportive and caring, always watchful of the university's development and exhibited pride in its growth."

Donations may be made in Grace Allen's name to the John and Grace Allen Scholarship Fund at the USF Foundation, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., ALC 100, Tampa FL 33620.