George G. Allen
- Chair, 1925–1960
- Vice Chair, 1924–1925
- Trustee, 1924–1960
Mr. Allen, who grew up on a farm in Warren County, N.C., began his career as a bookkeeper at the American Tobacco Company, then spent most of his life as Mr. Duke’s protégé and confidant. One historical record labeled him as Mr. Duke’s “closest associate and advisor.” The two men were of like background, mind and temperament, and were both active in the Methodist Church. Mr. Allen helped create the Endowment’s Indenture, was one of its original Trustees and succeeded Mr. Duke as chairman of the Endowment and was chairman until 1960. He also served as chairman of Duke Power Company and was a Trustee of Duke University. He established and worked from the Endowment’s offices in New York, and also served as a Trustee of The Doris Duke Trust. At a 1954 dinner celebrating his 80th birthday, Dr. A. Hollis Edens, then president of Duke University, praised him as “alert, questioning, ready to give praise or criticism as the facts may justify, but always kind and forever fair in his treatment of personalities and issues.”
“[George Allen is] alert, questioning, ready to give praise or criticism as the facts may justify, but always kind and forever fair in his treatment of personalities and issues.”
Dr. A. Hollis Edens