Catherine B. Allen, formerly Catherine Bryant, served as Editor-in-Chief of the Crimson from 1961 to 1963. She was the first Crimson editor to hold the position for two years.
Allen began in journalism in high school as an editor of her school paper in eastern Birmingham. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, some of her friends that were a part of the faculty at Samford, known as Howard College at that time, arranged for the journalism major to have a scholarship that she could apply for.
She started working in the summer of 1960 and then in the public relations program as a full-time student in the fall. That allowed her to get to know the “Crimson” workers due to the closeness of the offices.
Nearing the selection of the new “Crimson” editor, Allen was encouraged to apply her sophomore year.
While working for the Crimson, Allen covered the excitement over the building of Reid Chapel with wings for seating, the lack of grass on campus later fixed through landscaping and even the food provided with the dining plans.
At that time, according to Allen, “…we had a pretty decent football team. Bobby Bowden was the coach and so that was exciting.”
She also described an award that she and Bowden both received.
“Interestingly, Bobby Bowden and I were selected as alumni of the year in, I think, something like 1972. So, it was really an honor,” said Allen.
Allen, during her time as editor, also wrote an editorial piece on the aforementioned dining company. This editorial led to a lifelong friendship with the owner who accepted an interview and gave her coupons for his establishments around Birmingham.
Many of Allen’s stories created waves in the student body, with a riot of music students coming after her at one point and students rallying behind her stories at others.
Allen met the man who would be her husband, Dr. Lee Allen, while working. She would go to him to have him approve vouchers for expenses for the Crimson, including her salary. He eventually asked the college president at the time for permission to take her out on a date once he realized there was mutual interest. After marriage, Allen had to learn to adapt to life as a full-time student and faculty wife living on campus.
During her senior year, she began working for the Women’s Missionary Union of the Southern Baptist Convention and worked there for many years until she switched jobs.
Allen began working for a magazine company that turned into a multimillion-dollar business, and she became the associative executive director, taking some classes at Samford’s business school.
Throughout her career, she also did some global work.
“I met and conferred with women in about 120 countries and actually went in about 50 countries, some of them repeatedly to help them deal with their problems and learn leadership and to obey the teachings of Christ,” Allen said.
All in all, Catherine B. Allen led a long, successful career in journalism, starting as early as high school and used her abilities in leadership and writing to make strides in the business world and in furthering the Kingdom of Heaven.
