Lew Allen, Jr.

by Joe Leonard

Lew Allen, Jr. was born on September 30, 1925 and a few weeks later he was baptized in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Gainesville.   His mother, Zella Allen, also was a member of St. Paul’s from birth.  Lew had most of his early education in Gainesville and graduated from high school in 1942, followed by one year at Gainesville Junior College (NCTC).  He entered the U.S. Military Academy in 1943 and graduated in 1946 with a Bachelor of Science degree.  He was awarded pilot wings upon graduation from flight training.

He had a meteoric rise in the Air Force, as well as being assigned to the nuclear weapons test division located at Los Alamos for several years.  In 1961 he was assigned to the Office of Secretary of Defense, Space Technology, as the director of Research and Engineering.  In June, 1968 he moved to the Pentagon as deputy director of space systems.  In 1973 he became director of the National Security Agency for four years.  In 1978 he became Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, responsible for 750,000 persons under his command.  During this period 1978-82, he was appointed to rank of General, four stars.  The only four star general Gainesville has been able to claim.

Upon retirement from the Air Force in 1982, he became Director of Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, serving in that capacity until 1990.  Under his direction the company participated in space missions with NASA to Uranus and Mars.  From 1993-95 he served as a member of the President’s Foreign Intelligence Board.

In his career he was awarded three Distinguished Service Medals and four Legions of Merit.

All in all, he is the most distinguished citizen Gainesville can claim for the last 100 years, a Man of the Century.  He is now retired and living in Virginia, but he still claims Gainesville as his home.  He is proud to still have an account at the First State Bank, which he has kept since he was a youth.  He has also remained a devout Episcopalian.

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