Former Arizona Senator Carolyn Allen Passed Away on August 27,2016

Carolyn Sue Wilson was born in Hannibal, Missouri and was reared by her widowed mother.  She married her high school sweetheart, had one child and later moved to Denver, CO where she discovered politics.  She enjoyed several years in the public relations industry and later was employed by the Colorado Republican Party, which expanded her universe.  As a single mother she found that many areas of politics directly affected her everyday life.  She married a wonderful Texas oil man, Jack Allen in 1974 and decided to spend the winter months in the warmer climate of Scottsdale, AZ.  Immediately Carolyn became active in the community and was soon serving on local boards and commissions in the arts and in politics.

  

Prior to her first election to the AZ House of Representatives in 1994 she was Development Director of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and the Scottsdale Cultural Council.  She served as Executive Director (and later President of the Board) of the Scottsdale Arts Center Association.

While serving 8 years in the AZ House, she was House Majority Leader as well as Chairman of the Health Committee and sponsored major legislation in mental health care, air quality and civil rights issues.  She then went on to be elected to the AZ Senate and there too she would rise to chair or co/chair of many different committees.  She often said she was most proud of passing legislation for the McDowell Mountain Preserve and that she was the only Republican “no” vote on SB1070.

While serving in the legislature she was also:

·       Chair., Greater Southwest Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation

·       Recipient of Scottsdale Foundation for the Handicapped 2004 Humanitarian

·       “Scottsdale Woman of the Year” 2004

·       “Legislator of the Year”, State Senate by Arizona Chamber of Commerce 2003

·       Legislative Appreciation Award Arizona Hospital Association 2003

·       Member, Arizona Commission on Medical Education and Research

·       Member, Governor’s Prisoner Re-entry Task Force

·       Member, Maricopa County Comm. Of Justice System for the mentally ill

·       Member, National Conference of State Legislators, Executive Council

·       Member, Council of State Governments, Executive Board

·       “Legislator of the Year”, AZ Petroleum Marketers Assn. 2003

·       “One the Top 50 Community Leaders”, Scottsdale’s 50^th. Anniversary 2003

·       Member, AZ Governor’s Film and Television Advisory Board, 2002

·       Member, Commission on Women’s Health

·       Member, Advisory Taskforce on Improving Outcomes for Incarcerated Women

·       Scottsdale Hospitality Commission legislative award

·       Member, Scottsdale Chamber, Legislative Development Committee

·       Member, WIS HhHH List

·       NCSL Effective Government Committee

·       Fountain Hills Republican Forum

·       Fountain Hills Republican Women’s Club

·       Advisory Council, McDowell Sonoran Land Trust

·       Member, Desert Foothills Land Trust

·       Member, McDowell Park Association

·       Advisory Board, Scottsdale Foundation for the Handicapped

·       Advisory Board, Scottsdale Leadership

·       Member, Scottsdale Forum

·       Arizona Human Rights Fund, Individual Award

·       Board Member, Institute for Mental Research

·       Board Member, Healthy Arizona 2010

·       Board Member, Arizonans for Cultural Development

·       Member, ASU Nursing Advisory Board

·       Member, World Affairs Council

·       Morrison Institute

·       Member, Arizona’s Bio Science Roadmap Steering Committee

·       Senator Jon Kyl Re-election Committee

·       Precinct Committeeman

·       Founder, Las Rancheras Republican Women

·       Leadership Council, National Federation of Republican Women Board

·       Chairman, Arizona Federation of Republican Regents

·       Volunteer Chairman, Western Regional Reagan-Bush Committee 1984

·       Member, Reagan Inaugural Committee

·       Member Republican National Policy Forum

·       Member, Arizona Republican Forum

·       Board, Planned Parenthood

Additionally she received numerous awards from civic organizations for her work in the arts, mental health, education and prison reform communities.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, her son, Tony Tillquist and her husband, P. Jack Allen.  She is survived by her adored granddaughter, Jessica Glover and her husband, George and their children, Georgie and Harlie.

She lived a brightly colored and productive life and gave much to her community through thousands of volunteer hours for causes she championed.  Her leadership through sensitive and dicey issues never failed to build bridges and improved situations.  Despite suffering from crippling Rheumatoid Arthritis for more than 40 years she soldiered on without complaint and set the bar very high for those who will follow. She left a large footprint.  Her many friends will not forget her vibrant colors and determination.

 

The Glover family wishes to thank all those who took such great care of their beloved grandmother through her final days.  To the friends who stood by her and the many who she didn’t know, but who respected and admired her for her leadership and dedication to purpose, they thank you for giving all her hard work meaning.  She left us with a legacy we will always hold dear.

A private service will be held for family and friends. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the Honorable Carolyn Allen Fund has been established at the Arizona Community Foundation (2201 E. Camelback Rd., Suite 405B, Phoenix, AZ 85016), to honor her and the causes she championed.  For more information please go to: www.azfoundation.org/allen