Masters, Meets and Medals

Steve Allen was born Stephen D. Allen in Lubbock, Texas in 1936. He lived in Lubbock until he moved to Muskogee, Okla., in 1960. He learned to swim at age six at the Lubbock Country Club (LCC). Steve said, "I spent all summer every summer at the LCC until I had to go to work at age 16."

After being diagnosed with a degenerative disk, he started swimming competitively in 1985. He was told to contact Dennis Wilson in Tulsa, Okla., and join the Tulsa Masters. "I had never gone off starting blocks, never done a flip turn," he said. After that first meet he ordered some videos and books and started coaching himself with the help of his wife. He also watched the good swimmers at meets and tried to copy them.

Steve made Top Ten for the first time in 1997, and has been in the Top Ten every year since then in one of the three distances, in at least one stroke, sometimes four strokes. He competed in one national Masters meet finishing in the top ten in four events. He also swims in the Senior Games in Oklahoma and has been to two National Senior Games meets winning two gold medals, one silver, and one bronze. Steve said, "One of my favorite meets is the Huntsman World Senior Games in St George, Utah, where I have won many gold medals. I really enjoy swimming and meeting all the great people at the meets."

Steve Allen married Tommye Jean Wieland on June 22, 1957 in Dumas, Texas and they are now living in Muskogee, Okla. They have three children and six grandchildren.