Another local sports figure remembered

Since we’re still locked into this COVID-19 No Local Sports Twilight Zone episode, I’ve reached back a couple of times and talked about sports figures from Clinton County with stories that some readers may have forgotten, while others weren’t even born when they reigned.

Let’s do it again this week.

I was reminded of this particular individual this past weekend while visiting Sunset Marina on Dale Hollow Lake.

Phillip Allen worked for the Clinton County News for more than two decades while my parents, A.B. and Nell Gibson, were the owners and since I was hanging out at the office when I wasn’t in school, he was the closest thing I ever had to an older brother.

Sadly, Phillip passed away several years ago after a long bout with cancer. Local residents might better recognize his widow, Glenna Allen, who is still very active and resides in Albany. His son, Tom Allen, who was the subject of another recent Turnovers history lesson, is the co-owner of both Sunset Marina on Dale Hollow Lake, where he is also the General Manager, as well as co-owner of the new Marina Rowena on Lake Cumberland, along with Tony Sloan. Phillip’s daughter, Stacy Allen Barker, resides in Lexington.

Phillip was a local sports figure who picked a sport that was a little out of the normal realm, but he excelled at it anyway. In fact, he excelled at it so well so that he held multiple world records, some of which saw him top his own record to set new marks.

An avid sportsman, he hunted, fished, rode motorcycles and even golfed later in life, and whatever he chose to take on he only knew one level – all in and full speed ahead.

He chose to water ski as a youngster growing up, and continued to ski throughout his life, but in the 1960s, he began competing in regional speed races, with local businessman Ewert Wilson at the wheel of the boat that pulled him through the race course.

During one early race, Phillip was clocked while going through the course “speed trap” at 45.7 m.p.h., earning him a world speed record – you have to remember that this was in the mid-1960s when the largest Mercury engine on the shelf was a 110 h.p. outboard. As the engines got bigger, Phillip’s speed became faster and more world records followed.

According to an article in the Clinton County News about that feat, Phillip fell shortly after being speed clocked, and boat driver Ewert Wilson managed to turn, get the rope handle back in his hands and “yanked” him back on top of the water in what race officials described as a “spectacular pick-up”, eventually earning a second place in the race, despite having completely wiped out before reaching the finish line.

In the summer of 1969, Phillip set another world record while competing in a race at 64.516 m.p.h. That year, 1969, was an especially big year for Phillip, setting a world record, landing the six pound, four ounce small mouth bass seen alongside this column, and also being named Sportsman of the Year by the local Clinton County Conservation Sportsman Club.

Several years later, I was on hand in Dale Hollow’s Fannys Creek when Tom Allen brought the same ski his dad had raced on, and convinced Mark Shearer to pull him at a speed faster than 65 m.p.h.. After that successful run, Tom retired the ski.

Now, Phillip’s ski, a few photos and one of his world record certificates are on display in the back corner of the Marina store at Sunset.

Phillip taught me how to water ski when I was about 16 or 17 years old, in the mid 1970s, and when he was finished pulling me that first day, he put me behind the wheel of the boat and I pulled him for a short run.

I water skied for years and I’ve watched and pulled a lot of water skiers as well, but I’ve never seen anyone who could work the slalom ski as smooth and graceful as he did.

A few years later, when he decided to take up golf, I returned the favor and helped him get his game to at least a respectful level.

As I noted earlier, Phillip left this life way too early, but when he was on this earth, he was certainly full of life, and was likely Clinton County’s only multiple world record holder.

Take the short trip down to Sunset Marina and check out the small section in the back of the store that memorializes this Clinton County athlete and world record holder.

In the meantime – no sports at all stinks!

Phillip Allen hot dogging a little on a slalom ski in the 1950s.

In 1969, Allen landed this six pound, four ounce smallmouth bass on Dale Hollow Lake, set a world record speed water skiing mark of 64.516 m.p.h., and was named the Clinton County Sportsman of the Year by the local Conservation Sportsman Club.

Allen, right, and boat driver Ewert Wilson with several trophies the pair earned, and the ski he rode to multiple world records.