Herbert Clifton Allen Jr. was a distinguished physician and pioneer in nuclear medicine, resident of Houston since 1951. He graduated from the University of Richmond in 1937, with a Bachelor of Science degree. He received his medical degree in 1941 from the Medical College of Virginia and served his rotating internship at Philadelphia General Hospital 1941-1942. He entered military service in 1942 as a Flight Surgeon, rising to the rank of Major in the 96th Bomb Group (H), 338th Squadron.
After WWII, Dr. Allen completed his residency where he received his first training in atomic medicine. Shortly thereafter he was made Assistant Director of Atomic Medicine for the United States Veterans Administration and was responsible for the design of government nuclear laboratories throughout the USA. He then took a position at Wadsworth VA Hospital in Los Angeles as Director of Nuclear Medicine Laboratories and Assistant Director of the Radio-Isotope Unit. It was during that time that Dr. Allen invented the first Rectilinear Scintillation Scanner for the imaging of the thyroid gland in patients with thyroid disease. In 1951 he came to Houston as the Director of the Department of Nuclear Medicine serving many area hospitals. Dr. Allen was the author of more than 40 scientific and medical papers and exhibits and served as Director of Atomic Energy Industrial Laboratories of the Southwest, Inc., and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. He entered the private practice of Nuclear Medicine in Houston in 1960. Dr. Allen received an honorary degree in recognition of his lifetime achievements in the field of Nuclear Medicine from the University of Richmond. He also received a Gold Medal from the American College of Nuclear Medicine, which was presented to him by President Ronald Reagan. In addition, Dr. Allen served on many committees and boards which included the American College of Nuclear Medicine, the American Medical Association, the Society of Clinical Research, the Commission for Beneficial Uses of Nuclear Medicine, Harris County Medical Society, Society of Medicine of London, Texas Radiation Advisory Board, and other medical societies.
In 1994, Dr. Allen was honored in Quidenham, England for his instrumental role in the acquisition of a memorial stained glass window in the St. Andrews chapel near Yank Air Base at Snetterton Heath in honor of the men that lost their lives during WWII. The 96th Bomb Group also honored Dr. Allen for his contributions for installation of a replica of the memorial window in the Mighty Eight Air Force Heritage Museum in Savannah, Georgia. He was very active in civic and political activities, as well as a life member of the Houston Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club of Houston, and the Museum of Medical Science. He was a Life member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. He is a member of the Willow Meadows Baptist Church. In addition to his many professional interests, his hobbies included snow skiing, sailing and scuba diving with his family. He was also an avid sports fan and supported the local professional teams.
Dr. Allen died on August 5, 2008, at the age of 91, and is now buried in the Memorial Oaks Cemetery, Houston, Harris County, Texas, USA.
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