World War II Honoree

Enid Allen

Hometown

Stillwater, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SHE PARTICIPATED AS A VOLUNTEER HOSTESS CLUB MEMBER AT THE STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA AMERICAN LEGION POST 129 RECREATION CENTER IN 1944. THE CENTER PROVIDED AID AND ENTERTAINMENT FOR MEMBERS OF THE U.S. ARMED FORCES AND A ‘HOME AWAY FROM HOME’ FOR SERVICE MEMBERS ASSIGNED TO STILLWATER AND OKLAHOMA AGRICULTURAL & MECHANICAL COLLEGE (OAMC) FOR TRAINING. READING AND WRITING ROOMS, A HOSTESS CLUB FOR REFRESHMENTS, VISITING, LISTENING AND DANCING TO MUSIC, AND A SNOOKER PARLOR WERE MADE AVAILABLE FOR SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN. SHE AND OTHER LOCAL VOLUNTEERS WERE ORGANIZED TO PROVIDE REFRESHMENTS, SERVE AS DANCE PARTNERS, ENTERTAIN, AND ASSIST. IT WAS NOT UNUSUAL TO HOST IN EXCESS OF 3,000 PEOPLE ON THE WEEKEND, WITH AS MANY AS 400 ON THE DANCE FLOOR IN THE BALLROOM AT ONE TIME. OFTEN, 50-60 SERVICEMEN WERE IN THE SNOOKER PARLOR ON THE 9 TABLES, AND THE READING AND WRITING ROOMS WERE FILLED. THE REFRESHMENT TABLES WERE ALSO VERY POPULAR. IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE TO OPERATE THE RECREATIONAL CENTER WITHOUT THE WILLING AID OF THESE VOLUNTEERS.