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|nationality=[[United States|American​]]

|nationality=[[United States|American​]]

| office= [[Mayor]] of [[Shreveport]], [[Louisiana]], [[United States|USA]]​

| office= [[Mayor]] of [[Shreveport]], [[Louisiana]], [[United States|USA]]​

| party=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]-turned-[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] ​

| party=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]-turned-[[Democratic Party|Democrat]] ​

| term_start=1970​

| term_start=1970​

| term_end=November 27, 1978​

| term_end=November 27, 1978​

Congressman Brooks, who had served since 1937, endorsed Stevenson: "I have always been a Democrat and am too old to change now." Allen questioned Brooks' constituent services. He asked why there was inadequate postal service in Springhill in northern Webster Parish. Roy Fish, a Springhill attorney and then the chairman of the Webster Parish Republican Party, said that Brooks appeared to be attempting to coast to victory "on the coattails of both parties." [[Clem S. Clarke]], the Shreveport Republican oilman who had unsuccessfully challenged the election of Democrat [[Russell Long]] to the [[U.S. Senate]] in the 1948 general election, declared in an Allen advertisement: "We need a Southern Republican." Allen also won some Democratic support but not nearly at the level needed to win the election.<ref name=tst/>​

Congressman Brooks, who had served since 1937, endorsed Stevenson: "I have always been a Democrat and am too old to change now." Allen questioned Brooks' constituent services. He asked why there was inadequate postal service in Springhill in northern Webster Parish. Roy Fish, a Springhill attorney and then the chairman of the Webster Parish Republican Party, said that Brooks appeared to be attempting to coast to victory "on the coattails of both parties." [[Clem S. Clarke]], the Shreveport Republican oilman who had unsuccessfully challenged the election of Democrat [[Russell Long]] to the [[U.S. Senate]] in the 1948 general election, declared in an Allen advertisement: "We need a Southern Republican." Allen also won some Democratic support but not nearly at the level needed to win the election.<ref name=tst/>​

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In addition to the Allen campaign, Republicans in 1956 offered a congressional candidate in Louisiana's 2nd congressional district, which then encompassed parts of New Orleans and suburban Jefferson Parish. He was George R. Blue, an attorney. Attracted to Blue's candidacy but still a Democrat was a young Metairie attorney, [[David C. Treen]], who would later become the first Louisiana Republican to win a seat in Congress<ref>Grover Rees, III, ''Dave Treen of Louisiana'' (Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Moran Publishing Company, 1979), p. 40</ref> and to hold the governorship as well, beginning in March 1980.​

In addition to the Allen campaign, Republicans in 1956 offered a congressional candidate in Louisiana's 2nd congressional district, which then encompassed parts of New Orleans and suburban Jefferson Parish. He was George R. Blue, an attorney. Attracted to Blue's candidacy but still a Democrat was a young Metairie attorney, [[David C. Treen]], who would later become the first Louisiana Republican to win a seat in Congress<ref>Grover Rees, III, ''Dave Treen of Louisiana'' (Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Moran Publishing Company, 1979), p. 40.</ref> and to hold the governorship as well, beginning in March 1980.​

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Eisenhower easily won Louisiana in 1956, the first Republican presidential victory in the state since the disputed election of [[Rutherford B. Hayes]] in 1876. He led in 43 parishes and polled 329,047 votes (53.2 percent) to Stevenson's 243,977 (39.5 percent). The[States' Rights Party of Louisiana received 44,520 votes (7.2 percent).<ref name=1956returns>Louisiana Secretary of State, General election returns, November 6, 1956.</ref> Stevenson ran nearly 100,000 votes behind his showing in Louisiana four years earlier.​

Eisenhower easily won Louisiana in 1956, the first Republican presidential victory in the state since the disputed election of [[Rutherford B. Hayes]] in 1876. He led in 43 parishes and polled 329,047 votes (53.2 percent) to Stevenson's 243,977 (39.5 percent). The[States' Rights Party of Louisiana received 44,520 votes (7.2 percent).<ref name=1956returns>Louisiana Secretary of State, General election returns, November 6, 1956.</ref> Stevenson ran nearly 100,000 votes behind his showing in Louisiana four years earlier.​

Then in the general election on November 3, 1970, Allen defeated Shreveport businessman Edward Leo "Ed" McGuire (1914-1983), the first Republican since [[Reconstruction]] even to run for Shreveport mayor. A native of  [[New England]] and an in-law of Shreveport 1st Judicial District Judge [[Thornton F. Bell]], McGuire was a one term six-year member of the Caddo Parish School Board. He served alongside two other Republicans, [[Billy Guin]] and Joel B. Brown. They were all elected at-large, laetr by specific districts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=McGuire&GSfn=Edward&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=20&GScnty=1117&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=129524082&df=all&|title=Edward Leo McGuire, Jr.|publisher=Findagrave.com|author=Shawn Bohannon|date=May 9, 2014|accessdate=March 3, 2015}}</ref>  Allen's margin over McGuire was by landslide proportions, 63-37 percent. He forged a winning coalition of African Americans, blue-collar  whites, and local businessmen that would dominate Shreveport politically for most of the remaining years of the 20th century. Elected with Allen in 1970 were Public Utilities Commissioner William A. "Bill" Collins, Public Works Commissioner Donald Edgar Hathaway, Sr., Finance Commissioner Dwight Saur, and Public Safety Commissioner George D'Artois.​

Then in the general election on November 3, 1970, Allen defeated Shreveport businessman Edward Leo "Ed" McGuire (1914-1983), the first Republican since [[Reconstruction]] even to run for Shreveport mayor. A native of  [[New England]] and an in-law of Shreveport 1st Judicial District Judge [[Thornton F. Bell]], McGuire was a one term six-year member of the Caddo Parish School Board. He served alongside two other Republicans, [[Billy Guin]] and Joel B. Brown. They were all elected at-large, laetr by specific districts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=McGuire&GSfn=Edward&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=20&GScnty=1117&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=129524082&df=all&|title=Edward Leo McGuire, Jr.|publisher=Findagrave.com|author=Shawn Bohannon|date=May 9, 2014|accessdate=March 3, 2015}}</ref>  Allen's margin over McGuire was by landslide proportions, 63-37 percent. He forged a winning coalition of African Americans, blue-collar  whites, and local businessmen that would dominate Shreveport politically for most of the remaining years of the 20th century. Elected with Allen in 1970 were Public Utilities Commissioner William A. "Bill" Collins, Public Works Commissioner Donald Edgar Hathaway, Sr., Finance Commissioner Dwight Saur, and Public Safety Commissioner George D'Artois.​

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Not until 1990 did a Republican, Hazel Beard, win the mayor's race. When she stepped down after a single term in 1994, another Republican, Robert W. "Bo" Williams succeeded her. Williams was then unseated by the Democrat Keith Hightower in 1998.​ Beard is an aunt of long-term Caddo Parish [[Sheriff]] [[Steve Prator]].​

Not until 1990 did a Republican, Hazel F. Beard, win the mayor's race. When she stepped down after a single term in 1994, another Republican, Robert W. "Bo" Williams succeeded her. Williams was then unseated by the Democrat Keith Hightower in 1998.​ Beard is an aunt of long-term Caddo Parish [[Sheriff]] [[Steve Prator]].​

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Allen led his city during a time of transition and racial moderation. The city population grew, particularly the mostly white outlying residential areas. And new industry came to Shreveport, but critics said it was never sufficient to provide jobs for all who sought work. In time, blacks became the majority of Shreveport's population and a political force of immense proportions within the municipality. Caddo Parish, as a whole, however, remained majority white.​

Allen led his city during a time of transition and racial moderation. The city population grew, particularly the mostly white outlying residential areas. And new industry came to Shreveport, but critics said it was never sufficient to provide jobs for all who sought work. In time, blacks became the majority of Shreveport's population and a political force of immense proportions within the municipality. Caddo Parish, as a whole, however, remained majority white.​

In addition to his political activities, Allen was a strong civic leader. He was a member of the Louisiana State Fair Board, chairman of the State Fair Stadium Commission, and a commissioner of the since renamed Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. He was vice president of the Red River Valley Association, which pushed successfully for the navigation of the Red River south of Shreveport to the junction with the [[Mississippi River]]. He was a vice president of the Louisiana Municipal Association, chairman of the Shreve Area Council of Government, and a member of the Shreveport Airport Authority and the Parks and Recreation Council. He was a past president of the executive board of the Norwela Council of the [[Boy Scouts]]. Allen was also a member of the ArkLaTex Ambassadors, Holiday in Dixie, Kiwanis International, Joppa Lodge, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.<ref name=obit>''The Shreveport Times,'' February 24, 1991.</ref>​

In addition to his political activities, Allen was a strong civic leader. He was a member of the Louisiana State Fair Board, chairman of the State Fair Stadium Commission, and a commissioner of the since renamed Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. He was vice president of the Red River Valley Association, which pushed successfully for the navigation of the Red River south of Shreveport to the junction with the [[Mississippi River]]. He was a vice president of the Louisiana Municipal Association, chairman of the Shreve Area Council of Government, and a member of the Shreveport Airport Authority and the Parks and Recreation Council. He was a past president of the executive board of the Norwela Council of the [[Boy Scouts]]. Allen was also a member of the ArkLaTex Ambassadors, Holiday in Dixie, Kiwanis International, Joppa Lodge, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.<ref name=obit>''The Shreveport Times,'' February 24, 1991.</ref>​

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When he vacated the mayoralty, Allen became the coordinator for planning and development of Louisiana State University Medical Center in Shreveport, having served in that capacity from 1979 to 1988. Allen even staged a brief political comeback in 1990, when he won one of the single-member council seats under the mayor-council form of government. He served only a few weeks, for he died soon thereafter of a sudden illness in the Schumpert Medical Center in Shreveport.<ref name=obit/>​

When he vacated the mayoralty, Allen became the coordinator for planning and development of Louisiana State University Medical Center in Shreveport, having served in that capacity from 1979 to 1988. Allen even staged a brief political comeback in 1990, when he won one of the single-member council seats under the mayor-council form of government. He served only a few weeks, for he died soon thereafter of a sudden illness at the Schumpert Medical Center in Shreveport.<ref name=obit/>​

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Allen was twice married. In 1948, he wed the former Mary Miller. From this marriage were born a son, L. Calhoun Allen, III, then of [[San Antonio]], [[Te4xas]], and a daughter, Frances Olivia Allen. The marriage lasted until Mary's death in 1975. Thereafter, Allen married Jacqueline Spell Schober and acquired two stepchildren, John K Schober and Lisa Schober Smith.<ref name=obit/>​

Allen was twice married. In 1948, he wed the former Mary Miller. From this marriage were born a son, L. Calhoun Allen, III, then of [[San Antonio]], [[Te4xas]], and a daughter, Frances Olivia Allen. The marriage lasted until Mary's death in 1975. Thereafter, Allen married Jacqueline Spell Schober and acquired two stepchildren, John K Schober and Lisa Schober Smith.<ref name=obit/>​