 Kathryn Allen Donna Hunt, "GCC Photography Teacher Retiring," Denison Herald, April 30, 1989. GCC Photography Teacher Retiring
By Donna Hunt Herald Editor Kathryn Allen, photography instructor at Grayson County College for the last 11 years, definitely has her future in sharp focus. Allen's early retirement request was approved at the last meeting of the GCC College Board, and Wednesday will be her last day at Grayson, where she says she found satisfaction and happiness in a career she had pursued after many years in the newspaper business. She points with pride at the students' photographs hanging in the hallway outside her classroom as evidence that she has made an impression on the area. These photos are from this year's GGC Photo Show held recently, which Allen describes as "the best one yet," with 380 entries. "One of the best things about my job has been watching students who have no confidence in their ability to take good photographs learn that they can. Then watching the change in them as they build confidence and improve in other areas of life is exciting," Allen said. "I feel like I've accomplished what I wanted to do in teaching,' she said, adding that she is pleased with her work at GCC and the department which she describes as above standard. As soon as possible Allen plans to start doing some of the things she has always wanted to do while she's young enough to enjoy it, she said this week. Topping that list of fun priorities is doing research on 3 genealogical lines in her family. She started her research in the 1950s, only getting data, but pictures which have been put together in an album for the Underhill family. Other research is being done on the Carroll and Eastwood families. She's already compiled an outline for a genealogical book she's planning to complete soon. Possibly after making her first trip to Philadelphia, Nashville, Oklahoma City and points in Missouri this summer. She says she's not taking a camera because she's going on a genealogical search, but her students are thinking she won't leave home without one. She tells a story of a vacation to Mexico City several years ago when she had not planned to take a camera. Her students found out and shamed her into taking one. Then, she said she spent half of her time taking "good" pictures, because she knew the students would look at them and they "had to be good.' Allen came to Grayson in July 1978 from Odessa Junior College, where she had just completed her first year as a photography instructor. She had worked as an editorial assistant for the Baptist Standard Magazine for 12 years, as a free lance photographer for 3 years, Grand Prairie Daily News photographer for 3 years, then editor of that paper for 3 years before deciding to change career directions and return to school for her Master's degree and begin teaching. She said she woke up one day in Grand Prairie when she had just worked nearly 24 hours and decided there had to be something more to life. Her ultimate goal had been to teach, but with raising a son, who now is a diver out of Florida, and keeping a home she couldn't find the time to go back to school. Right then she decided to do something about it. She has never regretted selling her house to go to East Texas State University for that Master of Journalism degree with emphasis in photography. Her undergraduate degree is in speech and drama from the University of Mary Hardin Baylor at Belton. Odessa Junior College was the first job for which she has ever applied. All the others contacted her about coming to work for them. Since then Allen has taken numerous courses and workshops and compiled 40 yours and established residence requirements for her doctorate. But a serious illness interrupted those plans in 1985 and major surgery kept her out of school for one semester. She says she's fine now and ready to pursue her new life of retirement. "I've poured my whole life into Grayson County College," she s aid. "It's been my social life, my family and my friends. I loved every minute of it, but now I want to do some other things," she said. Allen plans to stay in Denison in a home she purchased last summer just 2 blocks from her mother, Mrs. Doyle Underhill. "Mother was a big help to me during my illness and after I went back to teaching." She reminisces. Allen was responsible for the installation of color photography equipment at GCC in 1982, "a great day when Dr. Truman Wester approved the addition to the department," she said. She's been involved in many projects here but claims the "Railroad in My Blood" exhibit as one of her favorites. She took all the photographs for the project which provided interviews to go with the photos of 27 interviewees that now are in the Sherman Historical Museum. In July 1987 Allen was accepted into Professional Photographers of America, the world's largest association for professional photographers, an honor of which she is proud. Planting flowers, raising a garden, mowing grass with her self-propelled mower with a rear bagger, and of course traveling look good to Allen right now. She hopes to do some volunteer work at the Denison Public Library and become involved with behind-the-scenes work for the Sherman Community Players. Then, too, there's a little nagging idea in the back of her mind that she would like to install a home darkroom. Her students are thinking that being "exposed" to photography has made a lasting "impression" on Allen and that her next "focus" already is "developing."  Grayson County College History Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |