[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 194 (Wednesday, December 14, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1283]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING NANCY ALLEN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BILLY LONG

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 14, 2022

  Mr. LONG. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize an individual who 
has made significant contributions to our justice system, championing 
the rights of victims; has served as an educator, inspiring thousands 
of college students; and has created and shared stories as a 
bestselling author.
  My district includes Springfield, Missouri, the home of Nancy Allen, 
a former Assistant Prosecutor, Assistant Attorney General, Senior 
Instructor at Missouri State University (Go Bears) and the district's 
first New York Times bestselling author. I am honored today to 
recognize the lifelong accomplishments of Nancy Allen, who comes from a 
long history of Missouri educators and attorneys in a family that is 
committed to serving the community. She also comes from just 2 doors 
down from my childhood home. You see Nancy and I were neighborhood kids 
together growing up in the 1960s.
  Nancy is a natural advocate. In 1973, at the age of 16, she appeared 
before the Springfield School Board to make the case for instituting a 
girls' competitive sports program in Springfield Public Schools. The 
Board voted in favor of her proposal that night, and that year, the 
schools extended athletic opportunities to girls for the first time in 
SPS history.
  She graduated from Missouri State University with an English 
Education degree in 1978 and received her Law Degree from the 
University of Missouri in 1980. She was a trailblazer for women in the 
legal profession, returning to Springfield in 1981 to practice law in 
Southwest Missouri. Nancy joined the Greene County Prosecutor's Office 
as the only woman on staff and tried over 30 jury trials.
  After marrying Randall Allen and starting a family, she became an 
Assistant Attorney General for our great state, serving for 9 years as 
a champion for victims of consumer fraud.
  In 2005, Nancy became an instructor at Missouri State University, 
teaching law classes in the College of Business. With over 900 students 
per year, she received awards for teaching and garnered the highest 
student evaluations. Though she retired in 2020, her relationships with 
former students remain strong. In 2021, she served as the officiant of 
2 former students' wedding and performed the ceremony.
  While teaching at Missouri State University, Nancy picked up the pen 
and began her career as a novelist, a goal she pursued with tremendous 
determination. In 2014, The Code of the Hills was released, the first 
legal thriller in her 4-book Ozarks Mystery Series published by Harper 
Collins. The series, which examines social issues as well as crimes 
against women and children, has been optioned by a major network.
  During this period of publishing success, she also became a co-author 
with James Patterson. Their first collaboration. Juror #3, became an 
instant #1 New York Times bestseller in 2018. Their next book, The 
Jailhouse Lawyer, became a #2 New York Times bestseller. Their next 
novel will be released in 2024.
  In addition, she teamed up with a film production company to author 
the Anonymous Justice series for Grand Central Publishing. Renegade 
came out in 2022, and Payback will be released in 2023.
  Nancy Allen's career illustrates a commitment to service, and also 
provides a true example of how hard work and determination can propel a 
talented constituent from my District into the New York City publishing 
spotlight.
  Madam Speaker, I want to thank Nancy Allen for her many contributions 
to our District and Nation.

                          ____________________