Lynn D. Allen (February 27, 1891 – May 31, 1958) was an

American football American football, referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada and also known as gridiron football, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular American football field, field with goalposts at e ...

player and politician. He played

college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...

for the

University of Detroit The University of Detroit Mercy is a private Catholic university in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It is sponsored by both the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and the Sisters of Mercy. The university was founded in 1877 and is the largest Catho ...

and professional football for the

Detroit Heralds Detroit had four early teams in the National Football League before the Detroit Lions. The Heralds played in 1920, and had played as an independent as far back as 1905. The Tigers, a continuation of the Heralds, played in 1921, folding midseason ...

. He also served as the Oakland County Clerk from 1932 until his death in 1958.

Early life and college

Allen was born in 1891 in

Birmingham, Michigan Birmingham is a city in Oakland County, Michigan, Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a northern suburb of Detroit located along the Woodward Corridor (M-1 (Michigan highway), M-1). As of the 2010 United States Census, 2010 censu ...

, on a farm near Telegraph and Maple Roads. He began high school in Birmingham but transferred to Detroit Central High School as a sophomore, becoming a football star there. He then enrolled at the

where he played for the 1917 Detroit Tigers football team that compiled an 8–1 record. He was rated as "one of the greatest halfbacks in University of Detroit football history." He enlisted in the Navy in 1918 during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

Professional career

He also played professional football for the 1920 Detroit Heralds. He appeared in two games for the Heralds. He lost a hand in a hunting accident in 1921.

Personal life

Allen was elected as a Republican as the Oakland County Clerk in 1932. He was then reelected 12 more times. He died of heart failure in

Grayling, Michigan Grayling ( ') is a city and the county seat of Crawford County, Michigan, Crawford County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the only incorporated community in Crawford County. The population was 1,884 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 cens ...

, over the Memorial Day weekend in 1958.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Allen, Lynn 1891 births 1958 deaths Players of American football from Oakland County, Michigan American football running backs Detroit Titans football players Detroit Heralds players Sportspeople from Birmingham, Michigan