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Show News & Views By GARY R. BLODGFTT Editor " Sli-'p-l --'lift GOLDEN ALLEN Sometimes newspaper reporters put off doing a story until it's too late. That's what has happened to me. For several weeks I have had it in mind to do a story about Golden Allen, former Centerville mayor, state auditor, and "watchdog" for the visitors and lobbyists at the State Capitol Building when the Utah Legislature is in session. "Goldie" died earlier this week without getting the recognition he deserves. 1 spent several years covering Centerville council meetings while Goldie was at the helm. He was an excellent mayor a person 1 really respected. He sometimes had a "mind of his own" and didn't want to get involved in anything that he didn't firmly believe in. Which brings back one vivid memory that I have of Goldie when he served as mayor. 1 don't remember the issue, but 1 do remember that the problem had been hashed over several times. Goldie made it a point that he was "not going to get involved, that the particular issue went against his beliefs." So rapping the gavel on the table , Goldie asked for a mayor pro-tem to be appointed, that he wasn't going to be a part of the discussion. Then Goldie left the council table and came down Into the audience and sat with me while his council further debated the issue. A lot can be said about Goldie, but no one says it any better than former Councilman Norm Wright in the following letter: Dear Editor: Monday, the citizens of Centerville lost one of the finest friends they will ever have in the passing of Mayor Golden "Goldie" Allen. This is true whether or not you were acquainted ac-quainted with him as he was your advocate for a better Centerville Center-ville as an ideal community in which to live and rear your families. He labored unceasingly and when necessary, unrelent-ingly.toward.the unrelent-ingly.toward.the attainment of this goal from the day he moved here. To him, if our city wasn't a small parcel of heaven here on earth, then he believed that those of us who resided here were obligated to do all possible to make it that. It was my privilege to serve as a member of the City Council during the period of time Goldie was our mayor. There were a few occasions when he and I supported opposing sides of an issue, but never did I have reason to believe that Goldie represented repre-sented anything but the best interests of Centerville and its citizens. He was a scrupulously honest, caring, generous man who improved the lot of anyone with whom he associated. I, for one, will miss Goldie. My greatest regret in his passing is that he has departed us, and I never took the time to express these thoughts to him or of the love I felt for him. (Perhaps the Clipper has a subscriber in heaven.) I find happiness in his parting in knowing that wherever he is, if I'm privileged to join him, I'll find evidence in virtually everything every-thing I see that will reflect improvements he has influenced since his arrival there. I invite you to join with me in saying, "So long, Goldie. We love and appreciate you for the influence for good you'll continue con-tinue to have in our lives for many years hence. And please keep your council meetings brief." Norm Wright |