Harold A. (Hank) Allen, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland (formerly of Wampum, PA) passed away Wednesday, May 29, 2024, he was 83.
Born July 23, 1940 in Wampum, PA, he was the son of the late Coy W. and Era Rhodes Allen. He was married to the late El Dora Hughey together they had two children. He then later married Charlotte Allen.
Hank graduated from Wampum High School in 1958, where, as captain of the basketball team, led the team to the PA State Championship Title. He was honored as “All State”. Then he attended Baldwin-Wallace and Youngstown State University. His professional baseball career included time with the Philadelphia Phillies, Washington Senators, Milwaukee Brewers, and Chicago White Sox. He was a member of “The Allen Brothers” professional baseball trio, which once ranked #11 in the “MLB: Brother Combination.”
After his Major League Baseball career, he became involved in thoroughbred horse racing and opened Allen Barn. His team of handlers, trainers, and jockeys were renowned for turning any horse into a winner. While winning countless races, one of his proudest moments was being the first African-American trainer in 79 years to saddle a horse in the Kentucky Derby. He returned back in baseball as a scout for the Houston Astros for 18 years obtaining many awards and accolades including a World Series Ring in 2017. He was a member of the First Baptist Missionary Church in Chewton PA.
Survivors include his son and daughter, Charles Richard Allen of Upper Marlboro, MD and Robin Cox of Ashburn, VA; brother, Ronald F. Allen of Youngstown; 8 grandchildren, Rickeysha Allen, Charles Allen Jr, Tiarra Allen, Corey Allen and Tyniesha Allen, Xavier Cox, Elijah Cox, Rachel Cox; 11 great grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four sisters; Dorothy Etta Daniels, Iona Bernard, Helen Elizabeth Craine, and Sarah Lee Eady, and three brothers, Coy Craine Allen, Caesar W. Craine, and Richard Allen.
