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"One Friend" was a hit
song for Dan Seals that topped the charts in the 1980's and the powerful part of
the song was the last lyric that said "If I had only one friend left, I'd want
it to be you". The song's theme was about friendship being all enduring and
about how friends can lean upon each other in good times and bad. The song about
the loyalty of friendship has been playing in my head the past couple of weeks
with the passing of one of Tallapoosa's most interesting personalities and
perhaps the most loyal friend I ever had. 24 years ago last month when I got off
the air the first time in Atlanta, waiting for me in the lobby of the radio
station was Richard Allen welcoming me back to Georgia. His law office was
eventually located on the same floor in the 200 Building of the Galleria as
Y-106 and he also was office neighbors with Ross Johnson the former CEO of R. J.
R.-Nabisco and the subject of a movie "Barbarians At The Gate" that starred
James Garner. Richard loved to visit with people. He was a person who loved good
and sometimes spirited conversation. Richard negotiated my first contract back
almost 23 years ago. He went toe to toe with the big New York legal firm
representing the radio station and Richard won on every point of what I wanted.
Richard was a top notch negotiator and he loved the art of the deal. Richard
Allen should be remembered as a patriot not just for serving his country in the
United Stat es Army but also as a patriot of the state he loved. He also was a
patriot for Haralson County in that his family had roots deep in this county
that go way back the 19th century. He also was loyal and true to his hometown.
Richard lettered in football and basketball for the Tallapoosa High School Red
Devils. He was a Boy Scout and volunteered for the Tallapoosa Service Council.
He was a brilliant student and sailed through Mercer University law school and
was the winner of numerous academic achievements. He was a guy who had his
eccentricities. He was the pickiest eater I ever knew. I think he required an I.
Q. test for most women he went out with. I have had him pull into my driveway
and have three hour conversations about his idea on how to boost economic
development for our hometown. Richard at one time lived in one of the
trendiest neighborhoods in North Atlanta off Riverside Drive. He and I shared
the notion that we might live in metro Atlanta but our home was Tallapoosa. It
always has been and always will be. Richard Allen was admired by the legal
community like Tommy Greer, Judge Mike Murphy, and Federal Judge Harold Murphy.
Richard was also friends with the man who did so much for Georgia, House Speaker
Thomas B. Murphy. Richard loved the law. Richard was tireless when it came to
research for a case. He didn't back down from speaking up for the voices who had
no voice. He stood up for people who had no one to lean on for help. He didn't
see skin color, nationali ty, ethnic background, or faith as a hindrance to
friendship. He was a man who was fascinated by people from other cultures. He
loved to learn about other's feelings on all things spiritual. Richard had a
sensitivity for people unlike anyone I have ever known. Richard Allen's life was
celebrated Sunday, March 8th in the courtroom of the old courthouse in Buchanan.
The room was filled with friends, colleagues, and family. If your last name is
Roberts, Allen, or Pope you might have been related somehow to Richard.
Richard's three sisters and his younger brother were there with the heavy burden
of saying goodbye to the big brother who adored them and was very proud of each
of the achievements of his siblings. Richard's memorial was filled with more
laughter than tears. It was the type of celebration Richard truly would have
loved. Speaking about my friend was a sweet but difficult task that beautiful
Sunday afternoon. Since getting the news on March 3rd of his untimely passing, I
have wished I could have been as good a friend to him as he was to me. I am
going to miss the emails from
scorpio26@bellsouth.net
that he composed often at 2 and 3 in the morning. I am going to miss our
conversations about politics and his visions for our town. I will miss his
passionate ideologies on his profession. I will treasure forever his loyal
friendship.I will always be able to remember the ring of his laughter and his
love for politics and people. I like many of you have felt that if we had only
one=2 0friend left, we'd have wanted it to have been Richard D. Allen. So long
my friend. I know we will see you again.
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