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I received the call from Billy Allman's captain out at Luke Air Force Base in California (County Coordinator - Arizona, not California). Billy crashed his P-38 fighter plane into the ground when he blacked out during practice dives. I believe this was in 1942 or so. Vance Martin was number 1 on the list to call in case of an accident, but he was gone from the store on vacation. I was number 2 on the list so they talked to me. I went to the Robinson Clinic and got Dr. Frank Robinson to go with me out north of Crane on the Kewanee leases where Bill Allman was drilling with a cabletool rig. Bill walked around and around the well site in shock. One of us drove him home to tell Ardeth Allman the terrible news. Billy's funeral was one of the largest ever at the Methodist Church. There was a Boy Scout standing at attention at intervals for miles out of Crane towards Odessa. Billy was an Eagle Scout and a fine young man. With the exception of Ted Hogan, Bill Allman was the most active and faithful Boy Scout worker Crane has ever had. He was also an excellent mayor and Crane Booster for many years. |