Occupation Teacher Name Carol Allen | Role Teacher Spouse Nelson Allen | |
Born October 11, 1943 ( 1943-10-11 ) Greenup County, Kentucky Residence Flatwoods, Kentucky, United States | ||
Carol Lynne Rice Allen (born October 11, 1943) is the widow of former Kentucky State Senator Nelson Allen, a retired public school teacher, and the unsuccessful Democratic nominee in the Kentucky State Senate election in the state's 18th Senate District, narrowly losing to incumbent Republican Charlie Borders.
Allen is a 1961 graduate of Ashland High School in Ashland, Kentucky, USA. She attended Eastern Kentucky University and graduated from Morehead State University in 1965 with a B.S. degree in Vocational Home Economics. Afterword, Allen completed an Occupational Training Workshop for Food Services at the University of Kentucky and graduated from Morehead State University in 1980 with a Masters degree in Education.
Allen was a public school teacher for nearly 30 years, teaching Home Economics at Catlettsburg High School from 1965 to 1970 and Russell High School from 1970 until her retirement in 1992. In 1989, she was named Outstanding Kentucky Future Homemakers of America Advisor. She then enlisted as a part-time instructor at Marshall University until 1995. She also served as a substitute teacher for the Russell Board of Education from 1996 to 2002.
Allen has and is currently involved in numerous community affairs and organizations, including the National Education Association, Kentucky Education Association, and Russell Education Association. She was also a member of the Region 10 Home Economics Teachers Association, Eastern Kentucky Vocational Association, and the Kentucky Association of Vocational Home Economics Teachers—all of which she served as president. Allen was also a member of the National Association of Vocational Home Economics Teachers, Kentucky Vocational Association, and American Vocational Association. She also belongs to the Kentucky Retired Teachers Association and Greenup County Retired Teachers.
Allen served on the Advisory Council to the Kentucky Department of Social Services under Governor John Y. Brown, Jr..
She has also given many volunteer hours to the community. She has served as Special Projects Chairman for Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital Auxiliary since 1995. She was treasurer for the Paramount Woman's Association in 1996 and 1997.
Allen belongs to various community organizations, including the Paramount Women's Association; Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital Auxiliary; Southern Hills Garden Club; Heritage, Arts, Science, and Tourism Board; and the Greenup County Tourism and Convention Commission—of which she is currently vice president.
Allen was married to former state senator and educator Nelson Allen for 40 years until his death in 2005. They have one son, Robert Brian Allen, and one granddaughter, Kynidee Allen. She is devout member of the Flatwoods Church of Christ.
On January 31, 2006, Allen filed to run as the Democratic candidate for State Senate in the 18th district against incumbent Republican Charlie Borders. The seat was once held by her husband, Nelson, for 18 years, until he was defeated by Borders in 1990. With Allen's entry into the race, the seat was viewed by many statewide political operatives as a crucial pick-up opportunity for Democrats. Despite being outspent 4-1, Allen was able to make the race surprisingly close. Allen won Greenup and Bracken counties and received 47.2% of the vote.