Welcoming State Sen. Cal Hobson to the Ellison Hall Rededication

Von showing his more tranquil face

Von Allen, Fat Man on Thin Ice

When Von Allen left OU in 1986, he never imagined the road that would bring him back to Norman.

Von was born March 7 in Sacramento, Calif. and grew up in Oklahoma City. A graduate of Western Heights High School, he attended OU and graduated with a degree in journalism in 1983. While at OU, he worked with the OU Police Department as a Community Service Officer which began a life-long interest in law enforcement, and a future job as a police dispatcher with the city of Plano, Texas. Many times he has entertained his co-workers with the wild antics of that period, including the time he was involved in a high speed chase.

After graduating from OU, he worked as assistant director of High School and College Relations (now Prospective Student Services) before moving to Missouri, where he served as associate dean of admissions at Westminster College. While at Westminster, he met and married his wife, Chris. This summer they will celebrate 13 years of marriage.

Von left the academic world for a while to work at Ovid Bell Press and Modern-Litho Printing. He then became a development officer at the University of Missouri at Columbia. It was a perfect fit. In 2003, he moved back to Oklahoma and joined the staff at the College of Arts and Sciences as director of development following Jim Gasaway's retirement.

At 6'8", Von is an impressive figure. He works many hours to help departments and programs improve their situations, helping to provide furniture, funding for speakers and seminars and funding for scholarships and endowed professorships for the college.

In his spare time, Von enjoys golfing, OU sports (of course!) and watching Cardinal baseball. He is a recent participant in Leadership Norman and the father to Bob, the cat with no tail, whom Von and Chris adopted several years ago.

As he is fond of saying, one day he will write his autobiography, which will entertain many folks. The title? Fat Man on Thin Ice.