George L. Allen
August 11, 1924 — June 12, 2004

The Pacific Northwest lost an industry leader when George L. Allen died at the age of 79. One of the founders of McKinstry Co., he practically invented design-build and design-bid for mechanical contractors. His company was the first mechanical contracting firm to fully integrate and eventually offer design, construction, maintenance, and energy and temperature control services.

He started his company with partner Merrill McKinstry in 1960 with 8 employees and grew it into the Association of Washington Business' Best Place to Work in 2000. At the time of his death, his 750-person company had revenues hovering at $120 million per year.

Those accomplishments are much to be proud of, but they don't do justice to Mr. Allen's legacy, David Allen his son, said in a eulogy to his father at the Seattle Museum of Flight in late June.

"I expected people to mention these accomplishments when they sent their condolences, and they did," David Allen said. "But what is more important is what people said about his character. That he was hardworking, honest, compassionate, generous, respectful and kind."

A slide show commemorating Mr. Allen's life shows that and more, even without narration. One striking feature of the photos is the smile in almost every picture. Another is that almost every picture shows Mr. Allen touching other people in the photo, either with a hug for his children, an arm around the shoulder for his employees in the field, or a kiss for his grandkids.

"George was just a regular guy," Tom Bell, a steamfitter with Local 82, who worked on many McKinstry projects, said. "He'd come out where you were working and shake your hand and find out what you were doing. He was genuinely interested in knowing who was working for him."

Starting out life in 1924 and growing up under difficult circumstances during the Depression, it would have been easy to lose the qualities that most defined Mr. Allen. In fact, he faced many challenges. While he served in WWII in the Army, his father served in the Navy. The younger Allen came home, but his father died in combat. A photo shows them both proudly wearing their uniforms, arms around each other.

He lost his dear friend and business partner Merrill "Mac" McKinstry in 1971. And eventually he lost his health.

After a heart attack in 1979 he developed congestive heart failure. He battled the disease for over 20 years, only recently selling his home with the gardens he tended in order to move into a condominium with access to an elevator.

Mr. Allen started out as a little boy in knickers, a wool coat and cap. A photo of him with his sister shows he was curious even as a tot. She is smiling at the camera. He is looking under the dog's tail. His curiosity continued to help him throughout life. By the time he got to the Army he was so smart, officers made him take the intelligence test twice because they were sure he had cheated the first time. After returning from the war he went to the University of Washington on the G.I Bill and earned a degree in mechanical engineering.

While still in college, he started working at University Mechanical. He met McKinstry at another firm, Beggs Co. When the owner died, they bought the company and started McKinstry Co.

Though his sons Dean and David Allen took over the company in the 1990s, Mr. Allen still came into the office every day. He was often the first there and the last to leave. He was famous for his notes and e-mails with words of encouragement or questions about work issues. Almost every employee attending Mr. Allen's service said they saw him as a father figure or a mentor.

"He was a wonderful mentor for so many, and he passed the philosophy of mentorship and community service to everyone he knew," said Brian Garvey, executive director of the Mechanical Contractors Association. MCA gave Mr. Allen a lifetime achievement award in recently for his honesty, courage and integrity.

In a final tribute, his employees formed a convoy of 110-McKinstry trucks and vans and drove them from the corporate offices in Seattle to the Museum of Flight. Though family members apologized for the location, saying it was the only place they could think of that would hold 1,000 people, it seemed fitting. The main exhibit at the museum is Pioneers of Flight, and Mr. Allen was a pioneer in his industry as well.

Remembrances may be made to the McKinstry Charitable Foundation, P.O. Box 24567, Seattle, Wash., 98124. All donations will be forwarded to the Boys & Girls Club.