Gordon P. Allen

Gordon Phillip "Joe" Allen
Member of theNorth Carolina House of Representatives
In office January 1, 1997 – January 1, 2005
Preceded by	Michael Satterfield Wilkins
Succeeded by	Winkie Wilkins
Constituency	22ndDistrict (1997-2003) 55thDistrict (2003-2005)
President pro tempore of the North Carolina Senate
In office January 1, 1971 – January 1, 1975
Preceded by	Frank Patterson Jr.
Succeeded by	John Henley
Member of theNorth Carolina Senate
In office January 1, 1969 – January 1, 1975
Preceded by	Daniel Stuart Matheson
Succeeded by	Willis Padgett Whichard
Constituency	11thDistrict (1969-1973) 13thDistrict (1973-1975)
Personal details
Born	(1929-04-29)April 29, 1929
Died	December 23, 2010(2010-12-23)(aged 81)
Political party	Democratic
Alma mater	Mars Hill College(AA)

Gordon Phillip "Joe" Allen(April 29, 1929 – December 23, 2010) was aDemocraticmember of theNorth Carolina General Assemblyand an insurance professional fromRoxboro, North Carolina.

After graduating fromMars Hill College,Allen served in theUnited States Armyduring theKorean Warand then served in theNorth Carolina National Guard.

Allen was elected to three terms in theNorth Carolina Senate,serving from the beginning of 1969 through the end of 1974. In just his second term, Allen rose to the highest rank of Senate leadership when he was electedPresident Pro Temand simultaneously Majority Leader. He was re-elected to a second term as Senate leader for the 1973–1974 General Assembly.

After leaving the legislature, Allen spent 20 years lobbying for the N.C. Bankers Association. Then, he was elected to theNorth Carolina House of Representativesin 1997, serving until 2005.He represented the state's fifty-fifth House district, including constituents inOrangeandPersoncounties.

Allen was also the first chairman of the board of trustees forPiedmont Community Collegeand later received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 2010.

He was a father of five children and grandfather of seventeen grandchildren. One granddaughter was named Rachael Gordon after her grandfather.