Allen, Thomas Coy Thomas Coy Allen, Professor of English at Lynchburg College, died at his home in Lynchburg, Va., on October 25, 2006. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, students and all who knew him. Tom was born in Tyler, Texas, on January 26, 1938, and reared in Longview, Texas. He was a graduate of Pine Tree High School, where he was in the National Honor Society and participated in the band, choir, drama and many other school activities. He graduated salutatorian. In 1956, he was the student pastor of Greggton First Baptist Church. He continued his education with a double major from Texas Christian University in mathematics and English. He graduated magna cum laude in 1960. Tom received his Master of Arts in English from Rice University in 1963. His continued studies there for a doctorate degree were interrupted with a tour of duty as a captain, Military Intelligence, in the U.S. Army, 1966-68 in Vietnam, where he received the Bronze Star for meritorious service. While pursuing degrees at Rice, he was a lecturer, graduate assistant and fellow. Tom loved education and educating others. He always knew he would teach. He wrote, "Teaching is a profession exciting for the opportunity to continue to learn and to have the privilege of teaching others processes and approaches by which they, too, may make similarly significant discoveries about themselves and their place in the world. . . ." He moved to Lynchburg, Va., in 1969, where he taught at Randolph-Macon Woman's College and Sweet Briar College. In 1984, he joined the faculty of Lynchburg College. There he taught more than 20 undergraduate and graduate courses, concentrating mainly on drama, literary criticism and 20th-century British literature. He also taught creative writing and was a published poet. Tom receive a number of honors from Lynchburg College, including the Shirley A. Rosser Award for excellence in teaching in 1992. Perhaps the most prestigious was the John M. Turner Distinguished Professorship in the Humanities, which he held 1999-2002. He was chair of the Department of English for more than 12 years. Under his leadership, the department grew significantly and attained a level of excellence that was his constant goal. Tom led several groups of students overseas on study-abroad courses, going to Italy and England. During the spring of 1999, he was a visiting scholar at St. Edmund's College of Cambridge University. Few people have been as admired or beloved as Tom Allen was at Lynchburg College. His colleagues will remember him for his ready wit, his unfailing professionalism, his tireless efforts on behalf of students and his remarkable intelligence. In addition, he was one of the kindest and most generous people, a ready and supportive friend and unfailingly decent in all his dealings with others. He had the power of making himself liked by everyone. Tom Allen was charming. No one who knew him was untouched by his gentle and gracious soul. Tom was the son of Coy W. and Roena Allen and is survived by his mother and stepfather, James Ogg; his sister, Roena Allen of Longview; his brothers, John Allen of Dallas, and Clayton Allen of Tyler; and sister-in-law, Kathy Allen of Tyler. His is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and friends. Memorial contributions may be made to the Thomas C. Allen Scholarship Fund, Department of English, Lynchburg College. A service to celebrate Tom's life will be held at Lynchburg College at a later date. The family will receive friends 10-11 a.m. Monday, October 30, 2006, at Lakeview Funeral Home. Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m., immediately following the visitation. Burial will take place in Longview. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lynchburg College, Development Office, 1501 Lakeside Drive, Lynchburg, VA 24501, Attn.: Thomas C. Allen Scholarship Fund; or to Greggton First Baptist Church, 4520 Marshall Ave., Longview, TX 75604. For those unable to attend, online condolences may be offered at www.mem.com. Published in the Longview News-Journal on 10/29/2006.