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We are deeply saddened that International President Brother David J. Allen died on Friday, October 2, 2009 at the Indiana University Hospital in Indianapolis of acute myeloid leukemia.

Brother Allen’s funeral services will be held on Friday, October 9, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. central daylight time at Christ Lutheran Church, 7051 Indianapolis Boulevard, Hammond, Indiana. A calling is also scheduled at Burns-Kish Funeral Home, 8415 Calumet Avenue, Munster, Indiana from 3:00-7:00 p.m. central daylight time on Thursday, October 8, 2009.

Chances are that if you became an Acacian during the last 30 years, you have either met or know of Brother Allen. If you met Dave, you remembered him and he remembered you.

Since his undergraduate years at Indiana University, Dave has remained active in the affairs of the Fraternity, serving on the IU House Corporation Board and as Chapter Advisor. He has served the International Fraternity as Judge Advocate and was currently fulfilling his second term as International President.

As Judge Advocate, Dave served in four administrations and was the driving force in the re-codification of the Laws of Acacia. Elected president in 2002, Brother Allen commissioned a task force to create Acacia’s Strategic Plan as a guiding document for the next decade. An outgrowth of the Strategic Plan is Acacia’s new Membership Education Program, Cornerstones.

David was born in East Chicago, Indiana on May 3, 1935 to David F. and Emma C. Allen. David grew up in East Chicago and attended East Chicago public school, where he was a stellar history student, avid varsity baseball player and student manager of Roosevelt High School’s highly regarded football teams. He attended American and Indiana University (B.S. 1957, A.M.T. 1959, and J.D. 1965). He was admitted to the Indiana bar in 1965 and the U.S. Supreme Court in 1968. David was the senior partner in the Indianapolis law firm of Hagemier, Allen & Smith from 1974 until his death.

David was a committed, well-known and extraordinarily capable expert in governmental matters in general, and the legislative process in particular. During his career in public service, he served as Administrative Assistant to Governor Matthew E. Welsh (1961-1965); counsel to Governor Roger D. Branigin (1965-1969); Transition Counsel to Governor Edgar D. Whitcomb (1969); University Counsel, Indiana State University (1969-1970); a member of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (1972-1975); counsel to the Indiana Speaker of the House (1975-1976); Special Counsel to the Indiana Senate President Pro Tempore (1977-1978); counsel to the minority party Indiana House and Senate (1979-1988); legislative counsel to Governor Evan Bayh (1989); and special counsel to Governor Frank O’Bannon (1997-2003). He was honored with the highest award given in Indiana and made a Sagamore of the Wabash by each of these Governors as well as Governor Joe Kernan. He was a key figure in the transition team from Governor Branigin to Governor Bowen, an old family friend. David served similarly as a special advisor 20 years later when, after a long stretch of Republican control of the State House, Governor Bayh succeeded Governor Robert Orr, another good friend. David was a bridge across party lines and a committed advocate for effective government. He was a wise and able counselor to many, and always put the interests of his nation and state above partisan objectives. David served as a member of the Indiana State Police Board (1968-2007), Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board and Advisory Counsel (1968-1985), Indiana Commission to Recommend Changes in the Legislative Process (1990-2002), Indiana Criminal Code Revision Study Commission (1998-2002), and as Commissioner, Indiana Commission on Recodification and Revision of the Indiana Administrative Adjudication Act (1985-1987).

From 1977 until his death, David was an Adjunct Professor of Public Law and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University Bloomington’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs. He was a moving force behind the establishment of that school, and loved Indiana University and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. A revered professor, David inspired many of his students to pursue a career in public service and was honored on numerous occasions for his contributions to the School and for outstanding teaching in both undergraduate and graduate public law related courses.

David was a devoted member of Acacia Fraternity and served as its international President at the time of his death. He was a recipient of the Fraternity’s George F. Patterson, Jr. award, the Acacia Award of Merit, and the Order of Pythagoras.

He was a 50 year member of the Andree Lodge, Independent Order of the Sythiod, Knights of Pythias Lodge, Griffith, Indiana, East Chicago Masonic Lodge #595 F & A.M., South Bend 32 Degree Consistory, Orak Shrine Temple, Michigan City, Indiana, and Indiana Harbor Commandery.

Beyond his students and his many friends, David loved baseball. For years, he coached American Legion Baseball for East Chicago Post 369 and later for Hammond Post 180, many of his players going on to college, professional, major league or World Series play. Yet another accomplishment was his noted expertise about American history, particularly the American Presidency. Over his lifetime, he accumulated one of Indiana’s most extensive private libraries on the Presidency.

He was formerly a member of St. Paul’s Swedish Evangelical Church in East Chicago, Indiana and at the time of his death, a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Hammond, Indiana.

Survivors include his cousin, Maryann Johnstone, and Maryann’s daughter and grandsons, Jennifer, Mitchell and Dean Jordan, of Bloomington, Illinois. Also surviving are his cousin Robert Allen, and Robert’s children, Eric, Danny, Clifford and Robin.

Donations in memory of Brother Allen may be made to the Acacia Fraternity Foundation, 8777 Purdue Road, Suite 225, Indianapolis, Indiana 46268.