Allen Robert Wilson

My Dad has 3 children, 6 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren. He and his amazing wife, my wonderful mother, have been married for 67 years. My Dad was a passionate high school teacher, who dedicated 30 years of his life to education. His appreciation of history, science, art, and geography was contagious; as a result, at 19, I went to work for the airlines to see the world, and of course, I took him along with me. I remember being in Mexico and my Dad insisting we take pencils and notepads to hand out to the children as they crowded around us. He told me that the children who were deprived of education longed to learn more than those who had been educated freely.

When I was growing up, my Dad spent summers creatively creating work for his children and the children in the neighborhood. He would have all of us help with his projects; namely, growing tropical plants to sell to nurseries. He wanted to see everyone succeed. My Dad was an incredibly greathearted man. Once, he told me to always say hi and greet everyone with a smile. I have great love and appreciation that God chose him to raise me, for my Dad made me a better person. I ask all of you here to cherish and celebrate my Dad today and everyday for changing all of our lives and the hundreds of students who were fortunate to have him as their teacher. Thank you, Dad, for all that you have done.