Allen Nixon

D. Allen Nixon:
Allen, 88, was born in Pine Bluff Arkansas, to Willie Belle Mason Nixon and Coy Madison Nixon, Sr. Allen is survived by his wife of 57 years, Gloria Matthews Nixon and their two children, Dr. Allen Nixon, Jr. of Jonesboro and Van Nixon Light of Little Rock. He is also survived by his four grandsons, Alexander Hayes and Zachary Allen Nixon; and, David Michael and Brian Harry Light. Allen is survived as well by two brothers and their families, Coy Nixon and Dr. Robert Nixon of Pine Bluff. His other brother, Lin Nixon, preceded him in death.

After graduating from Pine Bluff High School in 1939, Allen had the distinctive designation of being the only student at that time to never have been absent or tardy all twelve years. He left high school perhaps best remembered as recreating one half of the comic radio duo Lum ‘n Abner at school and community gatherings with his good friend Walter Trulock.

Two years later in 1941, Allen attended State Teacher’s College (UCA) until July 1942 when he enlisted in the Marine Corps during World War II. He served four years, earning a commission as 1st Lieutenant. Post war, Allen received his BSBA in accounting at the University of Arkansas in 1947.

While in Pine Bluff for the next 10 years, Allen held a variety of positions; Manager of Jefferson Abstract Company; Correspondent Bank Dept. Head, Simmons National Bank; Chief Deputy Tax Collector and Deputy Sheriff and Sheriff & Tax Collector for Jefferson County (4 years). He was called to serve at the Korean War the day he was elected Sheriff. Allen returned to assume his newly elected position a bit delayed in May 1951 after being released from service. During his tenure as Sheriff only one major crime was unsolved, tax collections coffers were filled to new levels; and the Junior Deputy Program was organized and grew to a membership of 1500 Jefferson County boys. Allen was featured in Fay Williams’ Arkansans of the Year (1953) during this time as well as awarded by the Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Distinguished Service Award, and Young Man of the Year Award (1954).

Allen joined E.C. Barton & Company (Jonesboro) in 1957 eventually becoming President (1967) and Chairman of the Board. He worked diligently to perpetuate the company and to take care of its employees, honoring the wishes of the company’s founder, to ensure that Barton’s would thrive many years past his 1992 retirement. Bartons grew five fold under his direction as president until 1988, followed by his service as chairman of the board when the company was building its regional business. In 1988 he was recognized as the Arkansas Lumberman of the Year. He served on various statewide and regional industry boards always using his dynamic leadership style to institute systemic improvements within a board’s organization or for the building industry. As a Mid-America Lumber Dealers’ Association Board member, Allen professed the importance of small businesses being politically active, resulting in the Ark. Dealers becoming the most active of the five member states in both state and national issues

Devoted to his family, friends, church, community, state and nation, Allen, with patriotic zeal, compassion, and commitment to his beliefs was always interested in helping. Allen abided by his father’s advice that if you express yourself and let people know what is right, you will be okay. In his passionate effort to help preserve the free enterprise system, Allen testified before U.S. congressional committees, wrote letters to various Congressional members as well as local/state newspaper letters to the editor, gave campaign speeches, served as president and board member of the U.S. Business and Industrial Council, and served as chairman (founding director) of the U.S.B.& I. Council Educational Foundation, a private non-profit organization whose mission is to educate college students about the private enterprise system.

At the state level Allen served as president of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce (1975-77), Board member of the Associated Industries of Arkansas, Board member of the Arkansas Good Roads Transportation Council, Board Chairman State Literacy Foundation, County Chairman of state campaign to keep the right-to-work law and county chairman of the state-wide effort to modernize county government (Amendment 56) as well as other business boards.

As an accomplished fund raiser, Allen helped meet the goals that established the Jonesboro Human Development Center (formerly, NE Arkansas Children’s Colony), and that funded various capital projects for First United Methodist Church. With other members of the St. Bernard’s Hospital Development Foundation Board, funds were raised to underwrite its cancer unit. Many happy and productive times were realized while serving on various Jonesboro boards, including United Way, Salvation Army, Red Cross, Chamber of Commerce, Friends of the Library, Craighead County Library, and First United Methodist Church District Trustees, Trustees, and Board of Stewards. Allen was a Paul Harris Fellow as well as President of the Jonesboro Rotary Club. Most of all Allen enjoyed his camaraderie with people—meeting, talking, debating, laughing and working with them- to improve life for individuals, families and the community.

Allen encouraged and supported his family, friends, employees and colleagues often writing caring letters at all the important times in one’s life. As a good story teller and public speaker, Allen served as master of ceremonies for numerous community and political events. Never being a person to mince words, Allen was “the man”, if you wanted to debate the current political issue of the day. Many times he professed to others the conviction, “never give up, keep on fighting”, an action he followed throughout his life.

A memorial service, officiated by Reverend John P. Miles will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at First United Methodist Church in Jonesboro. The family will receive friends beginning at 1:00 pm in the church’s Haun Lounge. A private burial will be held that morning.

The family would like to acknowledge the devoted and loving care of the many caregivers.

The family respectfully requests no flowers, but that memorials, in lieu of flowers, be made to First United Methodist Church, 801 S. Main, Jonesboro 72401 or NEA Clinic Charitable Foundation, P. O. Box 1960, Jonesboro 72403.