ALLEN, Ivan (Earnest), Jr. 1911-2003

OBITUARY NOTICE—

See index for CA sketch: Born March 15, 1911, in Atlanta, GA; died July 2, 2003, in Atlanta, GA. Politician, businessman, and author. As mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, during the pivotal civil rights years, Allen became a nationally known political figure for his support of desegregation. The son of a state senator who owned an office supply store, Allen earned a bachelor's degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1933 before joining his father's company. During World War II he served in the army's Quartermaster Corps stateside, returning home to take over presidency of the family business and increasing sales almost eightfold. His involvement in government began in 1945, when he worked for the governor of Georgia as an assistant for a year. Later, in 1957, he ran for the office himself. At the time, Allen was in favor of segregation, but this stand did not help him win his first run for office. Becoming president of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, he became involved in racial issues and eventually changed his stance on segregation. In 1961 Allen proved his support of African Americans by working to desegregate lunch counters throughout the city and to racially integrate schools. The result of this clear change of heart was that he gained the support of African-American voters and won the 1962 mayoral election, serving two terms in office. As mayor, Allen viewed desegregation as not only a social but also a practical issue, believing business stood to profit by welcoming rather than shunning black customers. His tenure oversaw many economic improvements for Atlanta, as he brought in more businesses, including sports franchises, by creating a positive economic atmosphere. While other cities lost population during this time, Atlanta saw its citizenry increase by almost one third. This is not to say that Atlanta was a peaceful place in the 1960s; race riots still occurred, but Allen faced the problem head-on, in 1966 walking into the middle of a riot without so much as a helmet on in an effort to show people he was on their side. In 1970 Allen retired from politics to return to his business, serving as chair of the board of directors of the Ivan Allen Co. The next year he published a book about his experiences in the turbulent 1960s titled Mayor: Notes on the Sixties, written with Paul Hemphill.

OBITUARIES AND OTHER SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Chicago Tribune, July 4, 2003, section 1, p. 11.

Los Angeles Times, July 3, 2003, p. B14.

New York Times, July 3, 2003, p. A23.

Times (London, England), July 24, 2003.

Washington Post, July 3, 2003, p. B7.