| Allen Blackmon is a lifelong South Carolina resident, husband, father, grandfather, Christian, conservative, and currently serves as a member of the Lancaster County Council.
Born on Langley Air Force Base as the son of an Air Force veteran, Allen's view on the importance of service and giving back was formed at an early age. He is proud of the generations of family service to the country and has a great appreciation and respect for the women and men of the Armed Forces who serve to keep America safe and free.
While attending Clemson University, Allen met and fell in love with Jane Bridges of Heath Springs. Shortly after graduating Clemson in 1978, Allen and Jane married and had two children, Kevin Blackmon, MD and Leigh Pate, DNP. They have been happily married for 45 years, and are now blessed to be known as "GrandDaddy" and "Mimi" to five wonderful grandchildren. Allen and Jane are active members of Salem United Methodist Church in Heath Springs.
In addition to his studies, Allen was active in clubs and societies at Clemson. He was a member of the SAE fraternity, the Clemson Weightlifting Club, the Clemson Skydiving Club, and the Central Spirit Committee.
Allen has always believed in hard work, determination and the entrepreneurial spirit. In high school, he worked at the local YMCA and then shortly after joined a swimming pool manufacturing company learning the ins-and-outs of business, finance, engineering and construction. He became a licensed General Contractor in 2006 and is also a licensed Specialty Roofer, which he still holds to this day.
Allen's belief that a high-quality education can be the gateway of opportunity for a child in need has led him to give back in the education field. Both of Allen's children attended and graduated from public high school at Andrew Jackson in Kershaw. He served as a substitute teacher for Lancaster County School District and as a member of the Heath Springs School Improvement Council, the Lancaster County School District School Watch program, and currently serves as a volunteer soccer coach with the Lancaster County Recreation Department.
When he's not rushing around the house with his grandchildren, Allen also has enjoyed God's blessings of the natural resources and adventures of the outdoors by water-skiing, fishing, snow-skiing, scuba diving, skydiving, hiking, back-packing, and swimming. Part of his volunteer efforts was even spent as an underwater diver for the York County Emergency Response Team. |