Troy University alumnus Wes Allen came by his commitment to public service honestly enough. His grandfather spent four terms as a county commissioner and his father served in the Alabama Legislature.
And, while the family’s legacy of public service played a large role in Allen’s decision to seek public office, the leadership skills he honed as a graduate student at TROY have also factored into his career path.
After graduating from the University of Alabama and playing football under coaches Gene Stallings and Mike DuBose, Allen came to TROY to continue his education. It was an easy decision, he said.
“I knew TROY was a special place with special people and great leadership, and I wanted to be around great leaders, and I knew TROY had that to offer,” Allen said. “It was a fantastic opportunity to further my growth and be around people that were going to push me and demand a lot from me. That is what I wanted to be a part of.
Allen pursued a master’s degree in sport management and worked in TROY’s Athletics Department.
“I came in the April quarter of 1999. We were still on the quarter system then,” he recalled. “I worked for Johnny Williams in the Athletics Department, helping to run the ticket office and helping in marketing as a 24-year-old graduate student. Being a former college athlete, I wanted to be involved with the Athletics Department, and I really enjoyed that. It let me continue to be a part of a team, being a part of something bigger than myself.”
Aside from the desire to continue to play a role in athletics, Allen knew that it was an exciting time for Trojan athletics.
“I knew that we were building something special at Troy University. I believed in the vision that Dr. Hawkins and Johnny Williams had for the University and for athletics,” he said. “Rolling up my sleeves and digging into that effort was very special. It taught me so much about the great folks at Troy University and the City of Troy. Being able to develop those relationships all over southeast Alabama and all over the state was remarkable. Those special memories are something that I carry with me to this day.”
Allen recalls the coursework as challenging but enjoyable.
“I enjoyed my classes. Dr. Kimbrough is one I remember being in class with. I go to church with him and he is a dear friend and mentor,” he said. “Dr. Kline was another great mentor. Being around those other graduate students in those classes was special. Knowing that TROY’s academics were preparing me for my career is something I never took lightly. I’m appreciative of the curriculum, appreciative of TROY and appreciative of all those professors and everyone who poured into me.”
After graduating in 2001, Allen felt “a calling” to public service. He served a Pike County’s Probate Judge for nearly a decade before being elected to serve District 89 in the Alabama House of Representatives. In 2022, he was elected Alabama’s 54th Secretary and was sworn in on Jan. 16, 2023.
“I had seen what a difference public service can make in communities,” he said. “I felt that the calling on my life to public service was a way that I could represent Troy University and the things they had done for me during my time there. Being able to take the leadership skills I learned from Troy University to the Pike County Probate Office, the Alabama House of Representatives and the Secretary of State’s office to this point has been invaluable.”
Allen is now seeking the Republican nomination for the office of Alabama’s Lieutenant Governor.
“Everything rises and falls on leadership. I want to be a part of the direction of this great state,” Allen said. “I want to make sure that Alabama is in a great posture for continued growth, and at the same time, make sure that we are protect our unique culture, our conservative values, our Christian values. I just want to be obedient to God’s calling for my life. I have a great wife of 27 years, Cae, and two adult children, Davis and Dee, and I want to make sure that they inherit an Alabama that is a great place they can call home and raise a family.”
Troy University Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., said Allen has distinguished himself through a career of public service.
“Wes has been a dedicated leader for Alabama who truly embodies the Trojan spirit of faith, family and freedom,” Hawkins said. “He made a tremendous impact on TROY during his time as both a student and a member of our athletics staff, and he has continued to serve our state with distinction. We are proud of his accomplishments and the positive difference he continues to make for Alabama.”
