[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 128 (Friday, September 28, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1751]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1751]]
                  ON THE PASSING OF FLETCHER E. ALLEN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 28, 2001

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to mark the passing of 
a dear friend and colleague of many members of this esteemed body. Mr. 
Fletcher E. Allen, Director of Government Affairs for BP Amoco 
Corporation, passed away in his home after a bout with cancer on 
Tuesday, September 25, 2001.
  Fletcher Allen was a wonderful man and a loyal servant of his 
community. His presence in our lives will be missed tremendously, for 
there is no doubt that Mr. Fletcher Allen was a great-spirited man; a 
man of passion, a man of loyalty, a man, above all, who cared about 
people. Moreover, he was a man who believed in simple values, and 
transformed them into deep-seated convictions; convictions he held 
tenaciously and for which he fought most vigorously. What a marvelous 
heritage he leaves for us to appreciate, emulate and nurture; there can 
be no doubt that he fervently loved life, his family and friends.
  Although he will be missed, those of us he has left behind find the 
words of II Timothy 4:6-8 to be a fitting epitaph for Fletcher Allen: 
``For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at 
hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have 
kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of 
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me that 
day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his 
appearing.''
  Mr. Speaker, Fletcher Allen's life was filled with trailblazing 
accomplishments and achievements. Not only was he one of the first 
African American executives in the government affairs office for a 
major oil company, but he began to achieve at an early age. He played 
all sports at his high school, and was named to the All State Football 
Team and nominated for the high school All-American Football Team. He 
then went on to earn a degree in chemical engineering from Michigan 
State University at a time when African Americans were still being 
discouraged from studying the sciences, finally graduating with honors 
from DePaul University Law School.
  Mr. Speaker, the stellar matriculation of Fletcher Allen is only 
matched by his illustrious business career. Fletcher began his career 
with Amoco at the staff level in 1970. Five years later he joined 
International Minerals and Chemical Corporation. He quickly elevated to 
Director of Sales for the Industrial Chemical Division of the 
corporation. After retooling the sales division to increase sales by 
15% and earnings of 10%, he then moved on to Velsicol Chemical 
Corporation, where as a Director he developed five new products in 
three new business areas. As a direct result of his actions Velsicol 
Chemical increased sales in his division $13.5 million.
  Mr. Speaker, Fletcher Allen not only conquered the science world with 
success, but he also demonstrated his intellectual flexibility and 
business savvy with a career change to banking. As a Vice President of 
Continental Bank, and then President of Allen Capital Group, Fletcher 
again proved that there are no boundaries for those with the will to 
succeed and achieve.
  By 1994 Fletcher Allen found himself back home at Amoco. The depth 
and breadth of his myriad of business experiences served him well 
during his second tenure with what we now know as BP/Amoco, finally 
culminating in his being named Director of Government Affairs for this 
Fortune 500 company. In this capacity I knew Fletcher to be a cogent 
thinker, experienced policy-maker, and a good friend.
  Mr. Speaker, in John 14, Jesus promises that there will be a place 
for us in His eternal home, and that He will come again to escort us to 
our new ``mansion.'' Fletcher Allen has found his place there in Heaven 
already. Maybe it will help us to know in our moments of sadness, that 
someday we too will find our way there to our special eternal room, and 
rejoin Fletcher Allen for a glorious and happy reunion in the presence 
of God.
  A wonderful and thriving family survives him, including his wife of 
27 years, Linda. His son Fletcher and his daughter Alikii will remember 
a caring, compassionate, and giving father. His father, Robert Allen, 
Sr., and siblings Robert, Richard, Bessie, and Elizabeth will also miss 
Fletcher's smile, but it is my sincere hope that they find solace in 
the fact his mother Irma is there with him in Heaven to take his hand 
in comfort.
  Mr. Speaker, the Beltway community lost a dear friend on Tuesday, and 
though we are sad, we know that his life was not in vain, for he will 
remembered by all as one of the good ones who come into this world to 
make it a better place.

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