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| Allen now in five halls of fame By Mark Foyer [ markf@hmbreview.com ] Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 2:13 PM PDT Make it five halls of fame for El Granada resident Lee Allen. Allen was inducted in the AAU Hall of Fame in late June. He’s also a member of the San Mateo County Sports Hall of Fame, Skyline College Hall of Fame, Portland State Hall of Fame and California Hall of Fame. “That’s about enough,” said Allen, who is still revered in the world of wrestling. The latest induction came just a couple of weeks after he coached his daughters, Sara and Katherine Fulp-Allen, at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Las Vegas. During the trials, Allen had a reunion with members of the 1980 Olympic team. The U.S. Olympic boycott prevented Allen from coaching that team in Moscow. On the day his daughters competed, Allen saw old friends as he walked around the Thomas & Mack Center. Later, at a reunion dinner, Allen had a chance to catch up. “A lot of them have become wrestling coaches,” Allen said. The AAU Hall of Fame dinner was just as enjoyable. “I always have fun going to those events,” Allen said. “The wrestlers are very supportive of each other.” He counts as friends just about anyone in the wrestling community, including Rulon Gardner, the surprise winner at the 2000 Olympics. Allen qualified for the Olympic team in 1956 and 1960. “I love all Olympic sports,” Allen said. “(My wife) Joan says that I have the Olympics in my blood.” Allen says he will try to watch as much of the Beijing Olympics’ wrestling as he can. In the meantime, he will pay attention to the other sports on the schedule. “Our challenge will be to find which channel will have the competition,” Allen said. Watching the Olympics is about the only time that Allen can relax. Shortly after the conclusion of the games, Allen will be back at Menlo College, preparing for his seventh year of coaching the Oaks’ women program. There might be a trip to Japan in the offing, as Sara prepares to try out for the U.S. Junior World Cup team. There could be one more hall of fame on the horizon, as he waits on the U.S. Wrestling Hall of Fame. “That takes self promotion,” Allen said. And that could take away from his time of coaching wrestling. He’s not worried about any more honors. “I’m busy,” Allen said. |