Phillip "Phil" Hugh Allman, Jr.

Phillip Hugh Allman Jr., Lt Col USA Ret., PhD, (101), Veteran of WWII, Korean and Vietnam Wars,

beloved father and friend, passed away in Colorado Springs on Tuesday, 24 July 2024.

Phil or “Hugh” to family, was born 5 Jan 1923 in Birmingham AL. He grew up during the Great Depression with frequent moves to various towns (including Atlanta, Buffalo, Cleveland, Indianapolis, and Richmond) as his family followed employment. Early on he was bullied, called “rebel” and chased home from school. He credited the Boy Scouts and later boxing and military high school with helping make him who he was. An early regret was falling one merit badge short of Eagle Scout.

After graduating from John Marshall Military High School in Richmond in 1942, Phil enlisted in the Navy, hoping for the glory of becoming a WWII Navy pilot. Unfortunately, air sickness in flight training ended that dream, but the Navy did not mind seasickness, and sent Phil to the Pacific for the next 3 years aboard the light carrier, USS Cabot, working Air Ordinance loading munitions on the planes he’d hoped to fly. He said it likely saved his life as many pilots perished.

In 1945, reassigned to naval aviation gunnery training in Norman, OK, Phil met and (as soon as the war ended) married the girl with whom he spent the next 74 years—Daisy Addington. Phil was discharged when the War ended and moved to Richmond VA. Daisy (17), a sophomore at Univ. of OK, followed Hugh to Richmond to live with his mother. Phil began college there then transferred to the Univ. of OK where both he and Daisy graduated in 1950; Phil, with a master’s degree in topographical cartography and a ROTC commission as 2nd Lt. in the US Army Corps of Engineers. The Korean war had started, and Phil was called to active duty and sent to Korea as an engineering intelligence officer to scout bridge and road capabilities in the war zones.

Afterward, Phil decided to remain in the Army, and he and Daisy (now accompanied by a son, Phillip III, and daughter, Lisa) enjoyed assignments in locations including Heidelberg GE 1954-1957, Boulder CO (teaching ROTC at Univ. of CO), Wash. DC, and Honolulu HI. On a “career broadening” assignments at the Pentagon as an intelligence officer from 1962-1965, Phil worked on the Cuban missile crisis in 1962; then was made the Defense Intelligence Agency’s desk officer for South Vietnam for the rest of his assignment. He was most proud of his last assignment as the Commander of the 29th Topographical Engineering Battalion in Hawaii making maps for southeast Asia (1967-1969).

Deciding to focus more attention on his family, Phil declined promotion and chose to retire in 1969. He and Daisy moved to Homer, Michigan, near Daisy’s sister, where he took a job as a high school principal in a school nearby. He quickly realized he’d rather teach college, so in 1971 he returned to college at Mich. State Univ. (MSU) to earn his doctorate in geography (again, using the GI Bill). It was actually a family event with Daisy, Phillip, and Lisa all on campus in school together. In 1976-7, in a VW camper, Hugh and Daisy traveled first to Mexico (to learn Spanish and visit Mayan sites) and later to throughout Central America to do research for his dissertation. They survived a massive Guatemala City earthquake and continued down the Pan American Highway to Panama to continue studies in population geography with many more adventures.

The next few years Phil taught at Olivet and Spring Arbor colleges in Michigan. He and Daisy moved to Colorado Springs in 1982 to help family and decided to stay. Phil taught at Pikes Peak Comm. Coll. & the Univ. of Southern CO and then relocated both of their mothers to the Springs to help care for them. Phil and Daisy enjoyed an active social life in Col. Sp., most memorably with many friends at the Senior Center and the Top Hat Strutters, a performing tap dancing seniors group. They loved to dance and entertain with friends

Beginning in 1982 they lived in homes in Colorado Springs that Phil spent his time improving, until 1997. Daisy became convinced Phil would kill himself landscaping or falling off the roof. So, they moved to the Satellite condo with a beautiful high-rise Pikes Peak view. They lived and hosted friends and family (for every holiday balloon and fireworks display) and family the rest of their lives.

At age 70 Phil decided he needed more exercise, and so joined a tennis group at Lynmar Racquet Club. For the next 30 years he enjoyed playing with that group (which moved to LifeTime Fitness when Lynmar closed), and attributed tennis and tennis friends to his longevity- especially after Daisy passed. At Lifetime Fitness on his 100th birthday, he was celebrated as the oldest club tennis player in the country. [The Gazette has a story featuring Phil playing tennis at age 99, type “tx6x0qig8fq” at youtube.com.] At Lifetime Fitness he celebrated his 100th birthday, as the oldest club tennis player in the country with more media fanfare.

During these years Phil moved both his mother and sister-in law, and later his mother-in-law, to Colorado Springs and took care of them as their health declined. In her last few years Phil also supported his wife, Daisy, and ensured she enjoyed life as much as possible. Daisy passed 6 September 2019.

Phil always credited education (the GI Bill) with making America a great nation and creating the middle class. Before WWII only 5% of the population could attend college. Phil (along with thousands of other WWII vets) earned his Master’s degree and later his PhD thanks to the GI Bill.

Phil truly reflected the best values of the Greatest Generation. He was a role model to all who knew him. Although not political, he believed in duty, honor, his country and respect for others. He was a kind, yet humble man; who loved his family, friends, and country.

Phil will be remembered by his family [two children, Phillip III (spouse Holly) Sacramento CA, and Lisa Hale (spouse Jeff) Bradenton FL, three grandchildren [Max Allman (spouse Susan), Jesse Hale (spouse Elena), and Doug Hale (spouse Matt Decker), and four great grandchildren (Krystyna Allman, Caroline Allman, Nathaniel Hale and Elliott Hale) as a generous and loving man. He is and will continue to be missed.

No local services are planned. Phil will join Daisy at Arlington National Cemetery in a service with military honors, being scheduled.