While the Trigg County Schools athletic complex continues to evolve through new improvements and projects, at least one person believes it’s time for a hometown legend to be honored in permanence.
During Thursday night’s Trigg County School Board meeting, longtime Wildcats public address announcer Jason Strickland submitted a letter, imploring the governing body to consider renaming Perdue Field to “Perdue Field at Chappel Allen Stadium.”
Strickland channeled the words of the late Jim Perrin, who served — among many successful posts — as Trigg County’s athletic director from 2008-11.
Allen’s legacy and contribution not just to Trigg County athletics — but to west Kentucky commerce and business — have been long lasting.
After serving in the 82nd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army, the Cadiz native returned to his roots and farmed his Allen Farms of Roaring Springs for 25 years. In 1971, he opened Cadiz Machine and Tool, which later became Kentucky Machine & Engineering, and spent a lifetime financially sponsoring and supporting local youth in sports.
Allen starred for the Trigg County basketball team in the 1950s, averaging 13.5 points per game during his 1953-54 senior year, and also served as a starter on both the offensive and defensive lines for Wildcats football.
He’s in the Trigg County Athletics Hall of Fame as both an athlete and contributor, and he’s one of the original founders of the Lyon County Post 68 American Legion baseball team, which typically sports some of the best players from west Kentucky.
Strickland noted that when he moved to Trigg County in 2003 to serve Cadiz Baptist Church, it was Allen and his family that quickly took him under their tutelage and care.
JoAlyce Harper, board chairman, said the letter would be duly noted and heavily considered, but that public interest and suggestion would be part of any renaming process that could, or would, occur with new construction and renovation surrounding Perdue Field.
Trigg County Superintendent Bill Thorpe added it would be some time before those projects were underway.
