COACH JACK ALLEN, 80, of Lake Leon, TX passed
away on May 27, 2016, in Fort Worth, TX, with interment
in Desdemona Cemetery at Desdemona, TX.
Coach Allen was born on July 28, 1935, in Ranger, TX
to the late Robert & Bea Needham Allen. He married the
love of his life, Linda Ann Greenhaw, in July of 1966.
Jack attended Ranger High School in the Class of 1953.
He graduated from Sam Houston State University earning
his Bachelor of Science in 1963 and a master's in 1973.
Jack's coaching career began in 1963 at Ranger Jr. College
where he coached for 23 years earning numerous awards,
including two national championships in 1973 and 1978.
His 1975 team finished fifth and his 1976 team finished
third in the nationals. Jack also won seven regional
championships and nine conference titles. Coach Allen
was elected into the 1986 Junior College Baseball Coaches
Hall of Fame, and NJCAA and the ABCA Baseball Coach of
the Year in 1973 and 1978.
After retiring from Ranger Junior College, Allen took
three years off before taking over the Tarleton State
University head coach position in 1989. "I missed the
association with the kids and I missed the competition,"
Allen said. He led the Texans to consecutive 40-win
seasons and was named the NAIA District 8 and Area II
Coach of the Year in 1992. Coach Allen earned his 1,000th
career win in 1995 and led Tarleton to its first NCAA II
Regional Playoff. Jack earned many awards while coaching
at Tarleton before his retirement in 2002. Of all the
awards that Coach Allen earned, he will be remembered
as a great coach and father figure to his players whom
he loved and who loved him. Coach Allen was inducted
into the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of
Fame in 2000 and the Tarleton State Athletics Hall of
Fame Class of 2009.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister,
Bobbie Lee Gunn (RHS-1937).
Survivors: Wife of 50 years, Linda Ann Allen of Lake
Leon; mother-in-law, Dorothy Greenhaw of Desdemona;
brother-in-law, Morris Greenhaw and wife, Pat, of
Desdemona; nephew, Brandon Greenhaw and wife, Karen,
of Glen Rose; niece, Diana Greenhaw of San Francisco;
and great-nephews, Evan and Marcus Greenhaw.
Former baseball players of Coach Allen attending his service.
WIFE: LINDA ANN GREENHAW ALLEN, 81, beautiful
sister, daughter, friend, and aunt, passed away Oct. 4,
2025 in Abilene, TX, with burial in Desdemona Cemetery
at Desdemona, TX.
Linda was born in Gorman, TX on Nov. 22, 194, to B.J. &
Dorothy Greenhaw. She attended grade school in Desdemona,
TX, and graduated from Stephenville High School in 1961.
She attended NT State University where she graduated in
1965 with a B. S. degree in Elementary education. She
taught school in Ranger, TX for several years before
leaving the teaching profession to become the Registrar
at Ranger Jr. College. It was there where she met and
married the true love of her life, Jack Allen, who at
the time was the baseball coach at Ranger Jr. College.
After Jack's retirement in 1986, Linda and he move to
Stephenville where Jack was later hired as head baseball
coach at Tarleton. Linda never missed a home game during
Jack's coaching career. She was his most loyal fan.
Linda is survived by her brother, Morris Greenhaw of
Desdemona; a nephew, Brandon Green haw and wife Karen
of Stephenville; a niece, Diana Greenhaw of Santa Fe,
NM; great nephews, Evan Greenhaw and Marcus Greenhaw
of Stephenville.
Linda was preceded in death by her husband, Jack; and
her dad and mom, B.J. & Dorothy Greenhaw.