How sad - White House Butler Eugene Allen died today

[malaise]

http://politic365.com/2010/04/02/eugene-allen-white-house-butler-to-8-presidents-dies-at-90/
<snip>

One highlight of Allen’s time at the White House included being invited as a guest to a state dinner for West German Chancellor Helmut Kohl by President and Mrs. Reagan. He and wife, Helene, were treated with the same honor as other invited guests. Allen would proclaim to Haygood, “I’m telling you! I believe I’m the only butler to get invited to a state dinner.”

And there was this moment as described by Haygood,

He looked up one evening in the White House kitchen to see a lone figure standing in the doorway: It was Martin Luther King Jr., who had insisted on meeting the butlers and maids. Mr. Allen smiled when King complimented him on the cut of his tuxedo.

In 2009, Allen received a VIP invitation replete with a Marine guard escort to his seat at the inauguration of President Obama. Sadly, the day before the election Allen’s wife of 65 years, Helene, died.
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Rest in peace Eugene Allen. I remember watching an interview with him after Obama won the election - he was so proud.

[WCGreen]

1. This is the stuff that makes this country what it is...

the flow of history and how it plays out with the regular folks...

[malaise]

6. 100% correct

:hi:

[JuniperLea]

2. I remember him too...

How sad. At least he lived long enough to work for the Obamas! What a thrill that must have been.

RIP, Mr. Allen. Thank you for your service to our presidents and their families.

[malaise]

5. No he didn't work for the Obamas

He had long retired but he was a special guest at the inauguration.

Here's a link
http://www.aintitcool.com/node/39171


add

[Yo_Mama]

3. thanks for posting this

I remember reading about his wife, Helene's death. They were so excited, but when he woke up that morning she was gone. They had been married 65 years, if I am remembering properly.

I'm glad he lived to see it. Bless both of their stoic hearts.

[malaise]

7. Yep

You're right

[sarge43]

4. Rest in peace, Mr Allen and thank you.

:patriot:

[proteus_lives]

8. RIP and Godspeed Mr. Allen.

I've always been impressed by old-time butlers. They also seem to have such class and dignity.

[goclark]

13. I'm proud to say my grandfather was a Butler

He too had such class and dignity.

He worked for a very wealthy and nice family in Maryland.

The family had two girls about the age of my mother.

They gave many of their dresses/hats etc(looked like new I was told) to my Mother while she was in high school and college. Of course she was the best dressed young lady at her high school and Colored College.

Mr.Brown (who was White of course) also taught my grandfather how to study the Stock Market. My grandfather had a little note book that he would carefully place his buy/sells in for many years. Mr. Brown would often give him extra money to purchase additional stock.
My grandfather would sit me next to him and explain it all to me when I was 10 years old.
When he died he left my mother $60,000 from his Stock success!

I learned a lot about how to save and value quality things in life from the Brown family.

They would often give him their "old" china and silver -- we still have the pieces and treasure them today.

For many Black families that were blessed to work for families like the Browns, it served them well and taught them to know how to reach for the stars for their own families.

On a sad note: When Mr. Brown died, the daughters were too broken up to go to see their father cremated. So, they asked my grandfather to go for them. My grandfather never got over it and told me many times that it was the hardest thing he ever had to do because Mr. Brown was just like a father to him.

Thank you for letting me share these memories. :cry:

On Edit: My 91 yrs.young Mom walked into the room.
I read her this post and she asked me to also tell this incident~

When I was about 7 years old, I was walking in downtown Baltimore with my grandfather ~ who really looked more White than Mr. Brown.
I remember that day clearly.
I was all dressed up and holding my grandfather's hand.
A White woman was walking by us and looked at me and smiled sweetly.
She said," My, what a lovely little girl, is she the Maid's child?"

My proud Grandfather looked at her majestically and said," No,this is my beautiful grand daughter and I am proud to say that I am a Colored Man. -- good day."

[mascarax]

14. Thank YOU for sharing them!

Sounds like 2 great men.

[proteus_lives]

15. Wow! Thanks for sharing!

Both your grandfather and Mr. Brown sound like they were wonderful people!

:hi:

[proteus_lives]

16. Wow! Thanks for sharing!

Those such cool stories!

Both your grandfather and Mr. Brown sound like they were wonderful men!

:hi:

[EFerrari]

17. Isn't that something. My mother who is visibly a brown Latina

once told me she didn't want to take my younger blond son out "because the neighbors will think I stole him".

Geeze. Knowing those neighbors, they would have, too.

What a great story, goclark.

[goclark]

20. Let's hope this generation will not have the same problems

I have not seen many young TBags.

I have so many friends/family members of all colors and cultures, we look like a beutiful rainbow when we get together!

Thanks!:hug:

[EFerrari]

21. We look like a UN committee meeting, too.

And as for celebrating holidays, holy moly. Catholics and Jews and Muslims and Buddhists and Protestants. LOL

[goclark]

22. I love learning about all the cultures

I know it makes me a better person.

[malaise]

28. Last year my second sister dropped her daughter to

the hairdresser on the day of her wedding. When she went back to pick her up one of the assistants said no one looking like her was there. My niece is the split image of her mother down to the dimples, but her daughter is very fair and she is brown. My niece saw her mom and called out to her but sis and my niece told the assistant a few choice words.

[grantcart]

18. You should gather all of the families memories of your grandfather and write

a post about him.

Have a happy Easter goclark.

[goclark]

23. Happy Easter to You! nt

[Dappleganger]

26. Beautiful memories, I envy you with your family's story. nt

[malaise]

27. Lovely tale goclark

:fistbump:

[BrklynLiberal]

9. Wow! How sad he lost his wife the day before President Obama's inauguration...

That would have been a great milestone for the two of them.

[malaise]

10. The day before the election

which was even more sad. They were both going to vote for him. I think the interview should still be around.

[BrklynLiberal]

12. You are right. I misread the article...

[goclark]

25. She was the Proud Wife ~ how wonderful

that she was able to share so many warm memories with him.

Many people live a longer life but not many have shared such extra special Memories.

May they Rest In Peace :cry:

[Kind of Blue]

11. So bittersweet.

See, this is why I love DU. Thanks so much for posting. I know I would have missed his passing.

KnR

[Subdivisions]

19. Goodbye Mr. Allen. You served your country well. n/t

[goclark]

24. As an African American I am just so proud

:patriot:

[Odin2005]

29. May he RIP.

He must have had a lot of stories to tell.