Southeastern Oklahoma State University Athletics

Football (1946-49)

Walter Lee Allen was born December 6, 1923 at Cunningham, Texas. He grew up in Durant where he was an outstanding football and track star for the Durant Lions. Following high school graduation he entered the U. S. Marine Corps where he continued to excel as a small guard for the Kinston Marine Hellcats of Kinston, South Carolina. His outstanding play there earned him a scholarship to the University of North Carolina but Allen chose instead to return to his home town and play for the Southeastern Savages.

When Southeastern resumed football in 1946 following World War II, Lee Allen joined an outstanding roster of players who were to lead the college through one of its greatest periods of football success. The Savages won conference championships in three of Allen’s four playing seasons.

Coach Dave Stevens converted Allen to fullback and he made the All-Conference team four consecutive years. He was an outstanding runner, a power runner who could grind out the yards when they were hard to get but also an exciting open field runner with speed who often broke long touchdowns runs. On defense he was an equally strong linebacker.

In addition to his gridiron feats, Lee Allen was a good track athlete. He dominated the hurdles events in the conference during his Savage career.

Following college graduation he began a teaching-coaching career that took him to Graham, Fox, Elmore City, Maysville, and Velma-Alma. He was teaching at Velma-Alma at the time of his death in 1974.

Lee Allen was an outstanding football player. He was, in addition, a young athlete and later a teacher and athletic coach, who possessed all the fine personal qualities deemed important in the American society. He honored Southeastern during his playing and coaching years. Southeastern honored Lee Allen on February 2, 1985 by naming him to membership in the Athletic Hall of Fame.