Pat and Delbert "Pete" Allen were inducted into the Bill Foreman Hall of Fame during a banquet at 28 Springs Restaurant on Thursday night.
They were called "keystone contributors" for the Boys and Girls Club of Western Benton County, which hosted the event for the third year. Pete Allen is the former president and CEO of Allen Canning Co., and previously served on the board of directors for the Boys and Girls Club.
The speaker for the event was the Allens' son, David Allen, a former Siloam Springs mayor who also served on the Boys and Girls Club's board.
"They told me I had 30 minutes, but when I got here, mom said, 'You have six and a half minutes,'" David said as he ripped up a sheet of his prepared speech, which resulted in a round of laughter from the dozens in attendance. "So, if I go over, my apologies. You guys who know me know that I could go over if I wanted to."
David Allen lauded the efforts of Foreman and Tony Barnes, the first two inductees into the hall that honors the club's major contributors.
"Most people don't know or don't believe that mom and dad did not always have a lot of money and did not always have the ability to help an organization," David Allen said. "Growing up, both of them worked very hard to provide for themselves and their families. They learned the value of a dollar and the hard work that it takes to replenish that dollar. They instilled that in my brother and sister and I, and gave us a sense of charity and a great faith in God.
"They loved helping those in need."
David Allen spoke at length about his parents' upbringing and explained why giving to charities such as the Boys and Girls Club is important to them.
"I thank you for honoring our parents," David Allen said. "Kids are important. Boys and girls are important. Children are our future. Now, I'm not going to sing the song, but they are very important and my parents are very appreciative of everything the Boys and Girls Club does for children."
Boys and Girls Club board chairman Shanna Morgan presented Pat and Pete Allen with a plaque at the conclusion of David Allen's speech, which ended with another round of laughter when he joked about accidentally "dropping the mic" as he tried to place it on the podium.
"On behalf of the Boys and Girls Club of Western Benton County, we would like to present this award for appreciation and recognition for your outstanding commitment to our youth in the community through the Boys and Girls Clubs," Morgan said. "The vision, enthusiasm, leadership and courage that you provide is an inspiration to everyone."
General News on 11/19/2017