I worked with Allen as an apprentice painter back in 83 and 84. He and I would would ride up 95 north working for Russell Hall. We had some fun times and Allen showed me so many tricks of the trade. He had a great sense of humor, and tought me alot about life. Now being a white teenager who thought he new something, Allen always had a way to get me thinking straight. We didn't agree on everything but I definitely respected him. One time driving up 95 we were doing like 65mph and a tire on a rim flew past us on the right, we looked at each other and were like damn! Who's tire was that?? It was our back tire! We laughed, put the spare on and got to work. I moved from Fredericksburg but on a trip back visiting family I ran into him on Hanover st. We talked about old times and bought him and I a hotdogs. I think of him often being a lifelong painter and thank him for what he tought me. God bless Allen, God bless his family.