Born in March 1944, LTC Allen is 64 years old. Living on the family ranch from 1950-1956, he spent 1st - 6th grades in a little country school in Smiley, Texas. His parents moved to Houston, when they could not make a living on the ranch, and he graduated from Kinkaid High School in 1962. Starting that Summer at the University of Texas in Austin, LTC Allen successfully completed a 4 year Bachelor's degree in Chemistry in only 6 years, finally graduating from Missouri Valley College in 1967. When the hard won diploma touched his hand, he realized he wanted adventure instead of lab work. This realization was aided by his self awareness he had the work ethic of a rock. He had to find a job that would correct both of his “lacks”, work ethic and adventure. He enlisted in the US Army Infantry. Starting as a Private, he cleaned toilets, painted rocks and scrubbed floors until the Army recognized his potential as an Officer and sent him to Infantry Officer Candidate School in Ft Benning, Georgia. During his training, a surfeit of James Bond Movies caused him to accept a commission in Military Intelligence, instead of Infantry.

LTC Allen was awarded the badge and credentials of a Counterintelligence Special Agent, trained in German, and sent to Germany. Before his almost 9 year active duty tour ended, he was trained in Vietnamese and served as an advisor in Vietnam, where he was awarded the Bronze Star, Vietnam National Police Honor Medal, Four Campaign Stars and a lot of certificates and diplomas for outer intelligence schooling. In 1975, LTC Allen, then a Captain, was assigned to a reserve unit where he completed 36 years of service, ending as a Lieutenant Colonel. During the 33 years since leaving active duty, LTC Allen has started a cattle ranch, chicken farm, agricultural equipment business, and guest ranch. He has kept the cattle and guest ranch. Along the way, he learned some Spanish and spent 6 years working on Teacher Certification in High School Science and acquiring a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Southwest Texas State University, in San Marcos, Texas.

In addition, he has been the Chief Deputy of the Gonzales County Sheriff's Department; the Smiley School Science Teacher; the Nixon High School Science Teacher; Justice of the Peace and Municipal Judge of Nixon; and a yacht captain specializing in the Gulf Coast, Florida and Bahama Islands. He also holds a private pilot license and an amateur radio license, WB5MLD. He is currently running for election as Sheriff of Gonzales County. His main income producing job is owner of the Lazy F Guest Ranch in Smiley, Texas, where his International and domestic guests ride horses and work with his cowboys. His real job is father to his 15 year old daughter, Sydney. He retired as a US Army Lieutenant Colonel in 2004.