Illinois State Bar Association Past President Lyle W. Allen, 87, of Peoria, passed away Saturday, March 3 at his home. He served as the ISBA's 96th President from 1972-73.
Born June 17, 1924, in Chillicothe, to Donald M. and Mary Ellen McEvoy Allen, he married Helen M. Kolar Aug. 16, 1947 in Fox River Grove.
A 1942 graduate of Chillicothe High School, he received his preparatory education at Northwestern University (B.S. 1947). He received his legal education at Columbia University and the University of Wisconsin (J.D. 1950). In 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. As member of the 87th Infantry Division in the European Theater of World War II, he earned a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.
He was admitted to the Illinois and Wisconsin bars in 1950. In 1951, he joined the Peoria law firm of Heyl, Royster, & Voelker. He was admitted to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in 1954, and to the United States Supreme Court in 1960. In 1962 the firm’s name was changed to Heyl, Royster, Voelker, & Allen.
Mr. Allen was a member of the ISBA Committee on Forms from 1962-64; a member of the Council of the Civil Practice and Procedure Section from 1955-61, of which he was secretary from 1956-61 and editor of Trial Briefs, the Section’s Newsletter, from 1961-63; secretary of the Council of the Insurance Law Section from 1963-64. He became a member of the ISBA Board of Governors in 1964.
He was elected Third Vice President of the ISBA in 1969, succeeded to Second Vice President in 1970, and to First Vice President in 1971. He served as the Association's 96th President from 1972-73. He became a member of the House of Delegates of the American Bar Association in 1971.
Mr. Allen was a member of the following legal organizations: Peoria County Bar Association (President 1982-83); The Chicago Bar Association; Illinois State Bar Association; Wisconsin Bar Association; American Bar Association; Bar Association of the 7th Federal Circuit; American Judicature Society (Board of Directors, 1971); Workmen’s Compensation Lawyers Association; Society of Trial Lawyers of Illinois; Federation of Insurance Council (Board of Governors 1964-66); and Association of Insurance Attorneys (President, 1965-66). He was a Fellow of the American College Trial Lawyers.
He was preceded in death by his wife, and one grandson, Eric Allen.
Survivors include his sister Mary A. Lynch of Wyoming, Ill.; his brother, James R. (Mary) Allen of Prescott, Ariz.; one daughter, Mary Elizabeth (Warren) Watkins of Peoria, Ill.; one son, Bryan J. (Debra) Allen of Dunlap, Ill.; grandsons Matthew (Breanna) Allen of Peoria and Jason (Jessica) Allen of Peoria Heights; one step granddaughter; and three great-grandsons.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, March 9 at First Federated Church, 3601 N. Sheridan Road, Peoria. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 8, at First Federated Church. Burial will be at Mount Hawley Cemetery in Peoria. Donations may be made to First Federated Church, or Lutheran Hillside Village Foundation. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Weber-Hurd Funeral Home 1107 N 4th Street, Chillicothe, IL 61523.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.weberhurdfuneralhome.com.