Howard "Hosie" Wilson Allen

IN MEMORY OF: Howard "Hosie" Wilson Allen Serving Location: CRAIN PLEASANT GROVE-MURDALE FUNERAL HOME 31 Memorial Drive, Murphysboro, Illinois Howard "Hosie" Wilson Allen, 94, of Carbondale, IL died peacefully at home on 30 November 2025, with his wife of 42 years, Lorie Jenner Allen, their friend Robin Buck, and his three dogs (Amanda Charlotte, Fergus Robert, and Morgan Gareth) at his side. Born in Dahlgren, Illinois on 17 May 1931 to Omar Ethan and Helen (Wilson) Allen, Howard grew up connected to his community and formed lifelong friendships. After graduating from high school (top in his class of 15), he attended Southern Illinois University before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force Reserves in 1950 where he served stateside during the Korean Conflict. Howard earned both his B.A. (1954), and M.A. (1955) in historical studies at the University of Chicago. He earned his Ph.D. at the University of Washington, Seattle in 1959 with a specialization in 20th Century U.S. History and fields in both Modern German History and Medieval History. He accepted his first University position at the University of Akron, Ohio where he taught from 1959-1962. He returned to Southern Illinois University in 1962 where he continued his career as a Professor of History until his retirement in 1999. On leave from SIUC from 1964-1966, he served as Director of Data at the Institute for Social and Political Research (ISPCR) at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. There he was responsible for processing the data of county Election returns of the. U.S. from 1820-1945. The data is stored in the archives of the ISPCR a n d is still available for academic and scholarly research. These two years sparked a continuing research interest in the field of quantitative history and his professional career and scholarly writing was heavily focused on data analysis. Professor Allen also was Chair of the SIUC History Department from 1982-1987 and was the Executive Director of the Social Science History Association from 1982-1992. His vita includes numerous publications in historical journals and several books, including Race, Class and the Death Penalty: Capital Punishment in American History, written in collaboration with Jerome M. Clubb and published in 2008. However, teaching history was his passion, especially large undergraduate classes. He always liked to point out that he "had a lot of important things to say and the more people who heard them the better," and over his 40-year career endeavored to pass on his love for History to over 25,000 students. His required reading list of 3-9 books per class (sometimes more) was rigorous and encouraged lively discussions and more thinking and writing for his students. Till his death, he maintained several friendships with former students and enjoyed their company and continuing discussions about current events in history. An avid life-long reader, he leaves behind a large library which will be donated to both Morris Library at SIUC and the Carbondale Public Library for their book sales. Howard played the tuba in grade school. After retirement took up the big horn again, playing in both the West Frankfort and John A. Logan College Community bands as well as the Swinging Seniors Dance Band in Carbondale. He was encouraged to grow as a musician and took lessons in the euphonium/baritone horn for many years, substituting that smaller horn for his tuba, and he played the baritone in the John A. Logan College orchestra. With the euphonium, his love of German polkas and waltzes blossomed and he formed the Old Comrades German Band. The group played monthly at the Carbondale Farmer's Market and other venues and introduced authentic German band music acquired from Germany from 2009 - 2020 when COVID stopped most music making. In addition to his wife Lorie, he is survived by his children from his first marriage to Kay Warren: Mark W. (Nancy) Allen of Lake Tahoe, NV; Robin Warren Allen of Champaign, IL and Laura Susan Allen of St. Louis, MO; as well as many close friends and colleagues. His parents and younger brother, Omar Edward Allen, preceded him in death. No Services will be held at this time. In Lieu of flowers, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions be made to the charity of the donor’s choice. The cremation of Howard "Hosie" Wilson Allen will be personally handled by the staff of Crain Funeral Home Crain Pleasant Grove-Murdale Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Howard "Hosie" Wilson Allen

May 17, 1931 - November 30, 2025