Allen Dorathy

Background

Dorathy McDonald, daughter of Jack and Dora (Barnes) McDonald, was born in Helena in Phillips County, Arkansas on March 10, 1910.

Career

Allen is most remembered as the first woman to be elected to the Arkansas State Senate. Allen represented District 26 which included Monroe, Lee, Arkansas, and Phillips counties. She ran unopposed in 1966 and 1970.

During her time in office, she was the only female in the Arkansas State Senate.

The Allens had no children. Tom died from cancer on October 31, 1963.

Dorathy began a career in the media as the society editor of the Helena World. She later worked for the Eastern Arkansas Record in the news and advertising departments.

In 1974, a fire destroyed the second floor of the Citizen.

Before her election to the State Senate, Dorathy was involved in numerous community groups and had a leadership role in several prominent organizations. She was on the Governor"s Advisory Committee on Mental Retardation, and was the past president of the Arkansas Hospital Association. She was a charter member and the first president of the Brinkley Business and Professional Women"s Club, and was a past president of Arkansas Press Women.

After Dorathy left the Senate, she remained active in community clubs throughout the rest of her life.

Prior to 1945, the was sponsored by the East Arkansas Young Businessmen"s Club. On her return to Arkansas, Dorathy took charge of the Mission Arkansas pageant.

In 1944, Tom Allen was elected to the Arkansas House of Representatives. Later, Tom Allen was elected to the Arkansas State Senate, and held the seat until his death.

On July 28, 1964 Dorathy Allen ran for and was elected to fill the open Senate seat of Tom after his death.

She was reelected in 1966 and 1970 without opposition. Dorathy served in the State Senate until January 1975. She did not run for reelection after reapportionment altered the senate district"s boundaries.

Dorathy was employed as a Senate clerk from 1975 to 1976.

Allen died on May 12, 1990.

Achievements

• In 1944, Dorathy chaperoned the winner to the Mission America Pageant in Atlantic City where she saw the defects in Arkansas pageant that would keep their local contestant from successfully competing at the national level