Nicholas Allen

Family: Barbara Berkey Allen (BS 1970); twin daughters Ashley and Kim; three grandchildren

Work: Budco, Inc.; 23 years; President & co-owner

Hometown: Tulsa and Muskogee (from the ages 6 through 17)

FAVORITES
  • Pastimes: Spending time with grandchildren, golfing, boating, TU sports, fishing, and snow skiing are my favorite activities. I also enjoy spending time at Grand Lake and playing the top 100 golf courses in the country with a group of friends.
  • Childhood Memory: Going to Ft. Gibson Lake and fishing with my grandfather; after that going to the lake for family gatherings and being the organizer of activities for my brothers, sister and younger cousins.
  • Memory of TU: A favorite memory associated with TU was attending the N.I.T. championship game in NYC in 1981 and again in 2001 — and TU won both championships.
LIFE LESSONS
  • Best advice received:
    My grandfather, Don Hill, told me to be positive!
  • What is the most important lesson?
    Follow the Golden Rule: Treat others as you wish to be treated.
  • What advice do you give to your children:
    A lot of advice, but they have selective hearing!
  • Advice to grandchildren?
    Whatever they want to hear; of course that may change as they become older!
  • What would your acquaintances be surprised to know about you?
    I really enjoy classical music.
  • What are you most proud of?
    Number one would have to be my family; second would be the 20 plus years of success of Budco, Inc. As an aside, one thing Barbara and I did that gave me great pleasure was surprising Glenn Dobbs with a lifetime membership in the TU Lettermen’s Association for his 80th birthday.
  • What influenced your career?
    I was a student at TU and needed a summer job prior to my senior year. The cable television division of LBO Corporation placed an opening for a summer position with the TU Placement office. After working for them that summer, I went to work for them full time after graduation from TU and have spent the majority of my career in cable television-related work.
  • What has been the greatest challenge in your professional life?
    Deciding to buy and operate a small business for 20 plus years.
  • If you could change one thing, what would it be?
    My belief is that you can’t live life in the rear-view mirror — live in the day, not the past.
  • Define happiness:
    Living your life in your own way.