Football, Class of 2003
The late Duane Allen was an integral part of the 1960 Santa Ana College football team that defeated Fullerton, 19-6; posted a 6-3 overall record and finished second in the Eastern Conference under second-year head coach Homer Beatty.
Allen’s talents didn’t go unnoticed as he was named Santa Ana College’s Athlete of the Year and the Eastern Conference Lineman of the Year. He was also recognized nationally earning Junior College All-American honors during his only season with the Dons.
In 1961, Allen was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams and became the first of just two Santa Ana College football players to make the jump from community college football to the professional ranks. The former Don spent seven years in the National Football League (NFL) playing for the Los Angeles Rams (1961-64), Baltimore Colts (1965-66) and Chicago Bears (1967). As a rookie for the Los Angeles Rams in 1961, Allen helped his team complete five of the first seven passes of the season for touchdowns.
“Duane’s philosophy about the team game of football was that football taught you cooperation, because you must rely on someone else and someone else must rely on you,” said Kazon Allen, Allen’s wife of 39 years.
Following his seven-year stint in the NFL, Allen coached both high school football and track and served as head coach of the Las Vegas Cowboys who competed in the Continental Professional Football League.
Allen was also an active volunteer with the Special Olympics and appeared in several movies.