Lethbridge College is saddened by the death of Lethbridge businessman and philanthropist Del Allen and offers its deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.
Allen, age 70, passed away on Tuesday evening, Oct. 8, in Lethbridge.
“The Lethbridge College community mourns the passing of Del,” says Lethbridge College President and CEO Dr. Paula Burns. “He made our community a better place by building meaningful partnerships with so many people and organizations. Our thoughts are with his family and his many friends and colleagues at this sad time.”
Known as an enthusiastic community volunteer, a successful entrepreneur, a proud sport and youth programming advocate, and a dedicated supporter of post-secondary education, Allen was perhaps best known in the Lethbridge College community for the generous gift made in 2000 by his company, D.A. Electric, which gave the name to the college’s oldest building – the D.A. Electric Barn.
The company, which at that time included Del, his brother Don and his son Doug Allen, gave $200,000 to the college’s TEC2000 Capital Campaign. In appreciation for this generosity, the historic Lethbridge College Barn was renamed the D.A. Electric Barn. At the announcement of the gift and renaming, D.A. Electric had about 80 employees; the Allens said that most of them had either gone through the Electrician Apprenticeship program at the college or took other kind of training at the college.
Allen, who was born in Medicine Hat, started his own electrical business in Lethbridge in 1975. Over the years, he emerged as a forward thinking visionary who encouraged the economic and cultural vitality of the city. One of his grandest and most memorable undertakings was negotiating with CP Rail to light up Lethbridge’s High Level Bridge. In 2009, in honour of the bridge’s centennial, he achieved what many had only talked about before and arranged the illumination of the bridge he called one of the wonders of the world.
Allen and D.A. Electric were regular supporters of many different college events and causes, including the annual wine auction, which he had attended since 1999, and the golf tournament, which he had supported since 1992. In addition, Allen and his company have funded an annual student scholarship since 1998. He had served as a member of the Foundation Board from 1998 to 2003 and helped spearhead the TEC 2000 campaign. More recently, he became involved in the college’s Wind Turbine Technician program and had served as a program advisor.
Funeral arrangements will be announced when finalized.