Paul Severn Allen's civic duty was matched by his uncanny vision.
Allen, a revered leader in the Hickory Chamber of Commerce for many years, died March 23 in his home state of South Carolina. He was 89.
He moved to Hickory in 1951. He was manager for the Center Theater.
It wasn't long before he was a valued member of the Chamber. He was on the board of directors and became executive secretary in 1958, a job he held until 1965.
Allen was an entrepreneur, and once worked as president for the Piedmont Education Foundation, a fund-raising arm of Lenoir-Rhyne College.
He was a faithful member and servant in First Presbyterian Church, a member of the Lions Club, served United Fund (now United Way) and the Catawba County Polio Association and part of the group of citizens who made Catawba Memorial Hospital a reality.
Allen meant a lot to the community. His words tell his story and illustrate why he had such a positive effect on Hickory and Catawba County.
"I have always felt that anyone earning a livelihood in a community has an obligation of community service."
"Because Hickory and Catawba County have been historically an industrial center for the area, we have accepted growth as a normal course of events. We haven't felt the urgency of an aggressive industrial development program.
"Our citizens must realize that we cannot stand still. We must grow if we are to provide an economy for our growing population.
"Our No. 1 program is to provide an industrial climate to protect and promote present industry in this community, and this in turn makes us attractive to outside industry and capital."
He gave us this advice in 1962.
Allen was an outspoken advocate for industrial diversity and well-planned growth.
His vision was as practical as it was prophetic.
Allen was a man for all seasons. Place him in an decade in the 20th and 21st centuries, and his skill and insight would not be out of place.
He would do as well today as he did years ago. He would be gratified to know Lenor-Rhyne is now a university. He said it would become one of the "leading four-year colleges in the two Carolinas."
Severn Allen worked hard for the Hickory area. To do otherwise never entered his mind.
He gave everything he had within him to everything — and everyone — he touched.
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