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Selfless, genuine, patient, loving, the epitome of good are just a few of the many words used to describe the late Lieutenant Colonel Carl “Dave” Allen who passed away recently following complications from a nearly six-year long battle with cancer.
Allen’s legacy throughout the community includes starting the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) program at Owen Valley High School (OVHS) and serving the community through The Exchange Club, Owen County Community Foundation (OCCF) and on the Spencer-Owen Community Schools (S-OCS) school board.
Allen served in the U.S. Air Force for 21 years where he was in charge of bunker controlled nuclear codes. During his service, he was awarded the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Achievement Medal, Air Force Good Conduct Medal and the Air Force Humanitarian Service Medal.
“Dave was part of the nuclear deterrent,” Darrell White, former CEO of the Owen County YMCA and friend of Allen, said. “I can’t think of anyone I would trust more to be in that position.”
White first met Allen at the YMCA, where he was an avid pickleball player, but they had the opportunity to get to know one another through The Exchange Club.
It was after his retirement from the Air Force that Allen started the JROTC program.
Tom Wallace, board chair of the OCCF and a retired OVHS teacher, recalled Allen creating the program.
“With soft eyes, warm smile and a firm handshake I was greeted and charmed by Col. David Allen,” Wallace said. “Each day with purpose, high expectations, patience and love Col. Allen would develop citizens of character that would be dedicated to serving their nation and community.”
Rhonda Schafer also taught with Allen and later served as principal of OVHS during Allen’s tenure.
“He thought of others before himself,” Schafer said. “He was just a great person to bounce ideas off of and get advice.”
She described how Allen advocated and taught students important life skills.
“He definitely wanted positive things for our students,” Schafer said, adding that Allen always thought about how every kid could succeed.
She also recalled a day when Allen, who was interested in genealogy, came into her office saying they were related. She was skeptical since her grandfather came from Germany and Allen was originally from Frankfort. But, Allen had learned that they were indeed distantly related through Schafer’s grandmother’s side.
“What a person to find out that you’re related to,” she said.
Ronda Stogsdill first met the Allen family when they began attending the church that Stogsdill attended. In addition to a friendship with Allen and his family, Stogsdill served with Allen on the board of OCCF and The Exchange Club.
“The students he taught received a great blessing not only academically but in life. He planted so many seeds and shaped future leaders with values of integrity and discipline. He had a unique ability to inspire and guide young minds while encouraging them to believe in their own inner strengths and abilities,” she said. “I believe this role came so naturally to him because of what a wonderful father he was to Billy and Katie. He was always alongside them supporting them in their activities.”
Owen County Medal of Honor recipient Sammy L. Davis first met Allen when Allen invited him to speak at OVHS.
“We became brothers after that,” Davis said. “Our time together was always very special.”
Davis also spoke to the relationship Allen had with his students.
“He loved his students immensely and, from my experience, in talking with the students, they all loved him,” he said.
Fellow S-OCS board member Chad Cooper noted something Allen said while teaching the JROTC program, "He said in all his years of teaching, he’s found that kids don’t change; it’s the parents that do.”
Several of Allen’s former students have taken to Facebook to share the positive impact he had on their lives.
One such student was Donnie Clifford Jr. who offered the following to The Owen News, “I first met Col. Allen my freshman year in JROTC. From the first moment I met him, I could tell that he was a good man with a heart of gold. I also had the pleasure of having him in a business class senior year. In that year, he helped me with everything, from homework to talking about life; he was always there.”
Another was Robbie Bean, who met Allen during a lunchtime recruiting period for the start of the JROTC program. Allen became a mentor and friend to Bean.
“He made it very clear that it didn’t matter how you were raised,” Bean said, adding that Allen said everyone has to make their own path. “He always made it known you had to work on yourself.”
Allen retired from OVHS in 2022 but took a break following his cancer diagnosis in 2018 and 2019 before returning to teach business classes.
It wasn’t long before Allen found other ways to create positive changes within the community.
“You would think that a cancer diagnosis would slow him down, but it did not. It just gave him a new perspective and outlook on life. He relished every moment and seized every opportunity to give back and improve the lives around him,” Stogsdill said.
Schafer said Allen struggled with the decision to retire in the first place.
“He was going to continue to make his mark,” Schafer said. “He made it his mission to still help others and make a difference.”
Serving on the scholarship committee and board for OCCF was one of the ways Allen continued to give back.
“Upon retirement Dave reached out to the community in which he lived. At the Owen County Community Foundation, Dave served once again with purpose, high expectations, patience and love on the Scholarship Committee and more recently the Board of Directors. Dave was devoted to enhancing the quality of life for all citizens of Owen County with the foresight and understanding that decisions made today will impact generations to come,” Wallace said. “All who encountered Col. Allen will take a piece of him with them as each of us serves all citizens of Owen County.”
S-OCS Board President Derek Morgan also spoke to Allen’s lasting legacy within the community.
“Dave's absence on our board, in our community and in the lives of his family will be difficult to overcome. Dave's dedication to public service has made him a valued member of the S-OCS School Board these past two years,” Morgan said.
He worked with several of Allen’s cadets when Morgan served as the Jobs for America’s Graduates Specialist at OVHS.
“His unwavering commitment and genuine care left an indelible mark on everyone he taught, and I find solace knowing that this mark will ensure his legacy endures for years to come,” Morgan said. “My hope is that we are able to honor his memory by continuing the work he was so passionate about.”
Stogsdill recalled a time Allen went above and beyond to offer her support.
“The special thing about Dave is he did all of these things with a big heart. He had endured so much that he had a special perspective allowing him to see you,” she said. “We were at a [OCCF] retreat, and I stepped outside. Having recently lost my husband, I just needed a break. He came outside and sat on the patio and said, ‘You may not want to talk right now, and you don't have to. I don’t want you to be by yourself, and I’m willing to sit here with you and not say a word.’ I didn’t even know anybody saw me leave the room, let alone be willing to miss part of the session to make sure a friend knew they had a friend. But, that is Dave, the epitome of good and a true friend.”
Allen is survived by his wife Julie, his children Billy and Katie, daughter-in-law Elizabeth and granddaughter Olivia. He is also survived by his sister Carlena “Jody” Davis.
“There is nothing he loved more than being a husband, father and papa. He also loved touching the lives of so many of you. I know so many of you have stories of my dad. Words are insufficient to describe how amazingly loved our dad was and there truly are no words to say in times like this. Just know we love and appreciate your prayers and support,” Katie Allen posted on Facebook when announcing her father’s passing.
Allen’s service took place Thursday June 6, with visitation from 2 p.m. until the start of his service at 6:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, Allen’s family asks for memorial donations to be made to OCCF in his memory to the Dave Allen Memorial Fund.
Two of the three Owen County Commissioners are new to their positions. Those new commissioners are former sheriff Sam Hobbs and David Risk.
In fact, the only commissioner who isn’t new to the position is Gary Burton, the board's former president.
At the beginning of the commissioners’ first meeting of 2025, held on Jan. 9, Hobbs was unanimously elected president of the board, and Risk was unanimously elected vice president.
Immediately following the reorganization, Hobbs gave a monologue about what can be expected from the board moving forward.
“It’s going to be kind of a lengthy meeting. We got a lot to go through. I’m not here to upset the apple cart with anybody, but I’m going to. It’s just the nature of the beast,” Hobbs began. “I base my faith off of God being in control because He is. We’re just here to do His will and try to make the best of a community that is falling apart.”
After sharing his long-standing attendance at these sorts of public meetings, Hobbs commented on a trend.
“The thing that I’ve seen in the last several years of coming to the meetings and stuff like that is the discord and dislike between the employees, whether you’re elected or appointed or whatever, has turned into a hatred. And it’s going to end. The reason I say that is we’re a team here together,” Hobbs said. “We were elected to serve the people and that’s exactly what we’re going to do. The people have a voice. You’re taxpayers. You’ll have a voice in every commissioners’ meeting. That’s only right. I expect your ideas, your vision, your goals and your solutions to some of the problems that we have.”
Hobbs then quoted Proverbs 23:19.
“This county is going to have a vision for everybody, not just for self-centered seeking thumb-sucking selfish people. I won’t tolerate it. I won’t tolerate rude behavior from nobody,” Hobbs said. “I’m in no way here to tell anybody to pack up and get going. If you’re not doing your job that’s required of you, there’s going to be a problem.”
Hobbs then said that employees are the county’s biggest liability and the county’s biggest asset.
“We’re going to work together as a team,” he said.
He then reiterated that the commissioners do not have any authority over other elected officials. He also said that commissioners should allow for autonomy and leadership from the county’s department heads saying they have a business to run.
Hobbs was clear that department heads could and should ask for guidance and help from the commissioners when needed and said the commissioners will not interfere unless asked or unless there is an issue.
“I’m new at this part [being a commissioner], but I’m not new at being around here. I’ve seen how some people have been treated and mistreated, and rest assured of one thing. That’s coming to an end, like real soon,” Hobbs said.
Then, instead of making the usual first meeting of the year liaison appointments, Hobbs announced that those appointments would not be made until February. He cited a “legal problem” but did not go into details.
“There’s some things facing this county that is going to be revealed in the next 30 to 60 days that could change the whole outlook on certain things,” he said.
One and only one liaison appointment was made, and that was for Risk to serve as the liaison for the highway department.
“Gary cannot do that because his wife works there,” Hobbs said.
Until appointments are made in February, Hobbs said that he would serve as the liaison for the auditor’s office and appointed department heads. He noted that elected officials can go to any of the commissioners that they want.
The commissioners then began with the routine business of approving the meeting minutes and claims.
In both this meeting and the Jan. 23 meeting, the commissioners addressed the extensive and inappropriate amount of out-of-cycle claims.
The board then went on to new business.
“This is where the rubber is going to meet the road for some of you,” Hobbs said, adding that it was unfortunate that not everything was going to be good news.
The first matter that was addressed was the contract with Dana Kerr for his services as county attorney.
“We’ve been through this for a couple of months. The current attorney is not here today. He is sick. We wish him the best in his recovery,” Hobbs began. “Dana is not here today, but we have to proceed with business. This has been discussed briefly in a couple commissioners meetings. The contract that the current attorney has is on a week-to-week basis at the moment.”
“Mr. Kerr’s last day will be Jan. 31. I’m not going to sit here and bad mouth him, run him down or anything like that. He did what he did and done what he’s done for what he thought was right. He’s an attorney. I do feel and I believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that Mr. Kerr was led down a couple roads that he shouldn’t have had to go down. That’s my two cents worth. I think if Mr. Kerr had things to do over again, they would be done different. Again, this is my opinion.”
With that, Hobbs moved to relieve Kerr of his duties as county attorney as of Jan. 31. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
“This is not the end of this story,” Hobbs said.
After allowing him to introduce himself, the commissioners hired Tony Overholt from Frost Brown Todd Attorneys in Indianapolis. Overholt has served as the attorney for the county council. The commissioners hired Overholt, who has been an attorney for 30 years, for six months. Overholt has experience representing local government.
Overholt will be paid between $350 and $375 per hour.
There is $160,000 budgeted for the county attorney. Under Kerr’s extended 2022 contract that served from week to week until the end of January, approximately $13,000 would have been spent from the $160,000 budgeted for county legal expenses.
The council separately has budgeted approximately $40,000 for their legal expenses, as Kerr did not represent the council.
At the high end of Overholt’s rate, the county commissioners would have a total of 392 hours before exceeding the appropriation. This translates to a weekly average of roughly 7.5 hours per week without going to the county council for an additional appropriation.
During the approximately four-hour first meeting, the commissioners also:
The commissioners also held a joint meeting with the Owen County Council on Jan. 23. A story on that meeting will be made available soon on The Owen News website, theowennews.org. The commissioners met again yesterday, Feb. 6, and they will meet again at 6 p.m. on Feb. 20 in the second-floor Commissioners Room of the Owen County Courthouse, 60 S. Main St., Spencer.
In celebration of its 31st anniversary, the Owen County Community Foundation (OCCF) is thrilled to announce the return of the $1 for $1 Anniversary Match Campaign, building on the incredible success of last year’s 30th anniversary event.
In 2024, nearly $200,000 was raised to support local nonprofits serving Owen County. This year, OCCF invites donors and nonprofits to make an even greater impact.
Running from Feb. 1 through Feb. 28, this match campaign offers a $1 for $1 match for donations made to Agency and Designated funds established at OCCF. These funds specifically support the work of nonprofits serving Owen County, providing them with both immediate resources and long-term sustainability.
“Spencer Main Street, Inc., took a big step forward in 2024 by establishing an agency fund with ‘our’ Owen County Community Foundation,” Julie Coffin, President of Spencer Main Street, Inc. said. “I think we don’t even realize yet how this strengthens our organization in terms of keeping us sustainable and giving us longevity. And those are vital qualities to have because we intend to keep working to make sure that Historic Downtown Spencer continues to be the heart and center of our community for another 205 years. The first word of our mission statement is ‘collaboration,’ and we are so grateful for OCCF’s support and collaboration as we all go forward!”
How the Match Works
For every dollar donated to an eligible fund, OCCF will provide a matching gift, which is designed to strengthen nonprofits in two ways:
This model allows nonprofits to meet immediate needs while building a stable financial foundation for the future.Participating Funds
Only Agency and Designated funds are eligible for the match. These funds support a wide range of causes, including youth development, historic preservation, animal welfare, community health, and more. A full list of participating funds is available on the OCCF website or by contacting the OCCF office directly. As of Feb. 5, the following funds were included in the matching campaign:
How to Donate
Organizations can accept donations in the following ways:
Join Us in Building a Brighter Future“The success of last year’s 30th Anniversary Match Campaign was a testament to the generosity and commitment of our community,” Karah Bobeck, OCCF’s Programs and Communications Director said. “We’re excited to offer this opportunity again and look forward to seeing the incredible impact it will have for Owen County nonprofits.”Nonprofits interested in participating in this campaign and establishing a fund at the OCCF, should contact the OCCF’s office at 812-829-1725.
A Gosport home was destroyed by a fast-moving fire that broke out around 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 24.
The first wave of firefighters and emergency personnel arrived on the scene a short time later to find heavy smoke billowing from the roof and flames engulfing the front porch of the home at 246 E. South St.
Homeowner Bryan Rogers was at home when the fire broke out and was reportedly unharmed, declining medical treatment at the scene from the Owen County Emergency Medical Service.
The American Red Cross was later contacted to help meet Rogers’ immediate emergency needs.
According to the Gosport Volunteer Fire Department, a cause for the fire was undetermined.
Firefighters estimated around 30,000 gallons of water was used to battle the morning blaze.
The Gosport VFD received mutual aid from the Owen Valley Fire Territory, Bean Blossom Township-Stinesville VFD, Owen County Sheriff’s Department and the Owen County EMS.
Fire personnel were called back to the scene around 12:30 p.m. where they were able to quickly squelch the rekindled debris at the home, located on the southwest corner of East South and South Second streets.
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