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Allen’s long journey finds its commencement
By Greg Gulas
His travels have taken him all over the United States and abroad during a five-decade athletic career.
He was recruited by famed UCLA hoops coach John Wooden, took trips to USC, Washington and then Wichita State but originally selected Gannon University.
A well-rounded athlete from Wampum, Pa., Ron Allen went on to make a name for himself as a basketball player after enrolling at then-Youngstown University, later making his Major League Baseball debut for the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Memorial Stadium in 1972.
His first and only hit in the majors was a home run. He later went yard on Eddie Feigner, the famed pitcher of the King & His Court at the Idora Park ballfield.
In the 1996, he and his brother Hank became the first black trainers in 78 years to saddle a horse in the Kentucky Derby when their mount, Northern Wolf, ran sixth to winner Sunday Silence.
On Saturday, Allen took what seemed like the shortest of all steps, culminating the longest, most fulfilling journey of his life when he stepped onto the graduation stage to receive his B.S. in general studies from YSU’s president, Dr. Cynthia E. Anderson, inside Beeghly Center, the arena erected after Ron’s playing days.
It took 46 years and 195 days after scoring his last bucket for the Penguins coach Dom Rosselli to earn that undergraduate degree. But the effort he put forth over the past year fulfilled a promise to his mother, Era Rhodes Allen, that he would become the first of her children to earn a college diploma. She passed away 16 years ago
“As one of 10 children, my mother truly was my inspiration,” he said. “While I might be the one receiving the diploma, my mother walks alongside me today. For I am not only fulfilling my dream, but her wishes as well.
“She didn’t know much about sports but she was my rock.”
Allen said he had a special bond with his mother.
“As the baby of the family I never thought that I had a first name because she would always say [that’s my baby],” he said. “I know that she is with me today and, in fact, smiling because we share this special moment together.”
Allen is in a select group as one of three brothers to make it to the majors, joining Dick (also known as Richie), who hit 351 home runs during a storied 15-year career and Hank, who pounded out six round-trippers during seven professional seasons.
In the late 1950s there was no amateur draft and he originally wanted to sign a professional baseball contract, but was discouraged to do so by his mom and then “highly encouraged” by her to attend college.
As one of 31 players to score 1,000 points during his Penguin career (he scored 1,001 in just three seasons from 1961-64 and is enshrined in the YSU Athletics Hall of Fame), Allen always regretted signing with the Philadelphia Phillies his senior year and never finishing his degree.
A chance meeting last August with a good friend, Ken Brayer, changed all that.
After Brayer arranged a meeting with Anderson, then Vice President for Student Affairs, Allen discovered he was just five classes short of a general studies degree.
Over the past two regular and summer semesters, he completed those requirements.
“I originally wanted to be an air traffic controller, but was talked out of it by Coach [Dom] Rosselli because it was just a one-year program and he wanted me around longer than that,” he said. ““I sure am glad that I did because I met my wife [the former Marthella Stewart] while a student and living in the old West Hall on campus. Not only are we celebrating our 46th wedding anniversary, but we can now celebrate this diploma together as well.”
Allen said he’s a man of his word, so he knew after meeting Anderson, there was no looking back.
“I can never express how appreciative I am of both Ken and Dr. Anderson,” Allen said.
There were others who helped guide Allen in the right direction over the past year, most notably Dr. Jane Kestner, Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences; Marilyn O’Bruba, senior athletic advisor in the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and fellow students Mason Shattuck (who graduated this past May) and Thomas Cotterman, who like Allen earned his undergraduate diploma Saturday.
Retired from the Maryland Race Track Association, the Allens made it a top priority to educate all four of their children: daughters Tracy (The Ohio State University), Andrea (Kent State) and Lymora (Wright State), and son Ronald (Edinboro).
It was only fitting that Anderson, who presented Allen a blank certificate during that August meeting a year ago with the words inscribed, “Always Think of Your Mother!!! Best Wishes, Ron,” present Allen with the real diploma.
“Ron Allen exemplifies the lifelong relationship between a student and Youngstown State University. His story is one of determination, love and pride,” she said. ““I thank my YSU colleagues who assisted him during his journey and ultimately the completion of his degree.
“I am so very proud of Ron. He’s a true YSU success story.”