Mike Allen

McALLEN, Aug. 26 - The City of McAllen and South Texas College have issued statements in honor of Mike Allen, the legendary former president and CEO of the McAllen Economic Development Corporation.

Allen died Wednesday evening aged 72, after a long battle against chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Allen was a trustee and former chairman of STC. The college has launched a memorial Web site with more than 70 photos and three of Allen's quotes. Click here to go to the Web site. The STC tribute is posted in full underneath this tribute from the City of McAllen:

Michael A. Allen, former President and Chief Executive Officer of the McAllen Economic Development Corporation and McAllen Foreign-Trade Zone, passed away Wednesday night at Rio Grande Regional Hospital with his wife Theresa and family at his side. 

He was 72, and was battling chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Allen was born in New Kensington, Pennsylvania and moved to Port Lavaca, Texas as a young boy in elementary school. He attended St. Anthony’s High School and the Oblate Seminary. He began his life in McAllen as a Catholic Priest at the Sacred Heart Church in McAllen. Allen married his wife, Theresa on August 24, 1991.

Allen was named the McAllen Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) President & CEO by the late McAllen Mayor Othal E. Brand, Sr. He was tasked by Mayor Brand with three main objectives; better relations with Mexico, operating the Foreign Trade Zone as a business with a positive cash flow and to create and maintain jobs in McAllen.

Under the direction of Allen, the McAllen area flourished, attracting 206 new businesses and creating thousands of jobs. His efforts also successfully attracted 292 new businesses to the Reynosa area, creating thousands more jobs and economic prosperity for both sides of the border.

To create better relations with Mexico, Allen formed and organized the Texas Border Infrastructure Coalition, an organization comprised of mayors, city managers, chambers of commerce and economic development corporations, as well as influential business leaders from Brownsville to El Paso. Allen also co-founded the Texas Border Partnership, a coalition of 5 Hidalgo County cities.

Allen was instrumental in campaigning for the development of the I-69 highway and the Anzalduas International Bridge, helping to spur economic growth and alleviate traffic congestion throughout the region. He received the prestigious Road Hand Award from the Texas Department of Transportation in 2009.

For his efforts and successes, Allen was named the 2006 Border Texan of the Year. Following his retirement from the MEDC, Allen remained active in the community, having served as a South Texas College Board of Trustees member since 2004. He also served as chairman of the Workforce Training and Education Committee at South Texas College. As Chairman of the South Texas College Board of Trustees, the college had the second highest retention rate for large community colleges in Texas.

The McAllen Economic Development Corporation also established the Regional Academic Health Center and the legislation that led to its creation. Allen was a member of numerous organizations, such as the American Economic Development Council, the Mexican Chamber of Commerce, the American Chamber of Commerce, the Reynosa Maquila Association, Texas Good Roads and Transportation Association, the Lower Rio Grande Development Council, the Texas Marketing Team, CoreNet, and the Rio Grande Valley Chamber of Commerce. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Rio Grande Valley Council of Governments and for five years was a member of the Governor’s Task Force on Management and Labor Relations.

“He’s helped so many people and that’s his legacy,” said his sister Joyce Skinner. “He spent his life trying to make things better for others.  He had an amazing knack of making himself available and easy to love.”

Allen served as president & CEO of the MEDC for 18 years, since its inception. Allen retired in 2006 and continued to serve his community as the District 3 South Texas College Board Trustee. His district covers south McAllen, southwest Pharr, Hidalgo, Sharyland, southeast Mission, and Granjeno, and was re-elected by his constituents in May of this year.

“Mike helped define this region as a vibrant economic area with great opportunity. He recognized the importance of education and worked hard to provide necessary job training for our citizens, as well as provide access to higher education. We will miss him dearly but his spirit will always be part of our community,” said McAllen Mayor Richard F. Cortez.

Allen’s legacy will live on as his guidance and expertise has helped counterparts in Mexico establish similar economic development. Allen consulted with state governors and economic teams in Guerrero, Oaxaca, Veracruz, Chiapas, Quintana Roo, Merida, Campeche, Tabasco and Puebla, to share insight and knowledge on how to attract growth and industry to their respective regions.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Kreidler Funeral Home in McAllen.

There will be a rosary on Friday, August 27, 2010 at noon at Sacred Heart Church, 306 S. 15th St., McAllen.

A funeral mass will take place on Saturday, August 28, 2010 at 10:00 am at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 630 N. Dunlap, in Mission.

Mr. Allen's burial will be private.

Allen is survived by his wife Theresa, step-sons Alan and Richard Skinner, his brothers and sisters, Cassie Musso Ribelin, Theresa Allen, Pat Allen, Charles Allen, James Skloss, Virginia Phillips, Joyce Skloss, Lawrence Skloss, Mary Susan Walker and his 22 much loved nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Our Lady of Guadalupe Church Building Fund, Mission, TX, Rev. Roy Snipes.

Here is the tribute statement by South Texas College:

Mike Allen, District 3 Representative on South Texas College’s Board of Trustees, passed away on Wednesday, August 25. Serving on the board since May 2004, Allen represented the interests of the constituents of south McAllen, southwest Pharr, Hidalgo, Sharyland, southeast Mission and Granjeno.
 
“STC has lost a great friend, relentless advocate and admirer of our many accomplishments,” said Dr. Shirley A. Reed, STC president. “He admired STC and recognized the contribution the college is making to the economic development and future prosperity of the region. He was a beloved friend of the college, City of McAllen, and the entire deep South Texas border region of Texas. Rest assured, he will continue to watch over us and admire all that we do for the people in the Rio Grande Valley.”    
 
Allen recently completed a term as chairman of the college’s board, and won reelection to his seat in May 2010.
 
“I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to continue my service on the board,” Allen said of his reelection. “I am a strong believer that when you connect business and industry with the college, job growth and development will be the outcome. I plan to continue focusing on developing innovative workforce training programs to develop the skilled business and industry leaders of tomorrow.”
 
During his tenure on the board, Allen contributed to the accomplishment of milestones that have helped the college grow to serve more than 27,000 students across Hidalgo and Starr counties. Under his leadership, STC has grown to offer more than 100 degree and certificate program options from its five state-of-the-art campuses.
 
“Of the many responsibilities Mr. Allen and his fellow board members have had, none have been as demanding as the construction program implemented by the college, which saw 16 buildings completed in 16 months at five locations, and completed on time and within budget,” said Dr. Reed.
 
His shared vision has allowed STC to become a thriving intellectual and community center, hosting art lectures, business luncheons, congressional briefings, visiting authors, and many other events enriching the lives of community members.
 
Because of his leadership in regional economic development, Allen spent much of his time on STC’s board pushing for new, innovative workforce training programs. He played an integral role in helping the college secure the necessary approvals to offer the Bachelor of Applied Technology Degree in Technology Management, and in Computer and Information Technologies. He oversaw the expansion of the college’s business and industry training programs to include precision manufacturing, engineering, import and export logistics, welding and diesel technology, to name a few.
 
Additionally, Allen worked closely with college administrators to secure grant funding for workforce training in key industrial jobs needed to recruit new companies to the area including welding, industrial maintenance and computer maintenance. He was instrumental in helping the college establish the North American Advanced Manufacturing Research & Education Initiative (NAAMREI) to develop the nation’s only advanced, rapid response manufacturing industry. With his assistance, the project received more than $5 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Labor and $3 million in funding from the Texas Workforce Commission.
 
“Mike has been my friend and mentor for more than 20 years,” said Wanda Garza, executive director of NAAMREI. “I admired his intolerance for mediocrity. If you knew him, the last thing he ever wanted to hear from his team was ‘that can’t be done.’ His legacy will be lived through his family and friends. He is a giant in our community and will be the voice in my head telling me to be a leader and advocate for the families in our community. He would tell me to ‘stay focused and get the job done. He will be remembered for his commitment and drive to make South Texas College a world class institution.’”
 
Allen was a true believer that college begins in kindergarten. As such, he was a proponent of the college’s elementary school adoption programs. He also pushed for a innovative approach to dual enrollment, allowing high school students from the two counties served by STC to take college courses tuition-free. To date, more than 9,000 students take advantage of the program to earn college credit in critical subject areas like history, math and science, as well as in technical trades like precision manufacturing and automotive technology.
 
The 2006 Border Texan of the Year, Allen supported the growth of the college’s scholars program by designating STC’s Valley Scholars Program as the beneficiary of the $46,689 raised from the award celebration dinner.
 
“He was always a generous man with his time and in raising funds to help us meet our needs,” added Dr. Reed. “This contribution helped several students earn a college education that may not have otherwise been possible.”
 
Allen retired as the executive vice president of external affairs and strategic projects for the McAllen Economic Development Corporation in 2006. He was the founder and chairman of the Texas Border Infrastructure Coalition, which was formed to develop, advocate and coordinate solutions to economic development needs in a 19-county region along the Texas-Mexico border.
 
He also served as a member of numerous organizations including the American Economic Development Council; the Mexican Chamber of Commerce; the American Chamber of Commerce; the Reynosa Maquila Association; the Texas Good Roads and Transportation Association; the Lower RGV Development Corp.; the Texas Marketing Team; CoreNet; the McAllen Citizens League; and the RGV Chamber of Commerce.  In addition, he has served as a director of the Rio Grande Valley Council of Governments and as a member of the Governor’s Task Force on Management and Labor Relations. 
 
“Mike Allen’s passing is a great loss for South Texas College,” said Gary Gurwitz, who currently serves as president of the college’s Board of Trustees. “His expertise, especially in the areas of workforce development and job training, was invaluable. He was a dedicated and hardworking member of the board and always did what he believed to be in the best interest of the students. The college and the community have lost a much respected and highly regarded advocate for a better quality of life and greater personal dignity for all of us. We will miss him. Our prayers are with his family and friends.”
 
Services for Mike Allen include a rosary to be held on Friday, Aug. 27 at noon at Sacred Heart Parish in McAllen and a funeral mass to be held on Saturday, Aug. 28 at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Mission. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to the Our Lady of Guadalupe Church Building Fund. 

Write Staff

Printable version