Obituary of Theodore Mynott Allen III

February 14, 1941 – Lethbridge, Alberta

September 9, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

"Unable are the loved to die, for love is immortality” - Emily Dickinson

Theodore “Ted” Allen III, beloved husband of Holly Allen (nee Maguire) of Calgary, AB, passed away peacefully after a lengthy illness at his home on Monday, September 9, 2024, at the age of 83 years.

Ted was born in Lethbridge, AB, on February 14, 1941. He spent the first six years of his life on the family farm south of Taber, AB. When Ted was six years old and starting school, the family moved to Lethbridge. At that time the farm was not within any school district. He loved sports and spent most winters after school playing hockey with his good friend Harold Flemming at KinTown, an outdoor hockey rink in Lethbridge. In 1956, the family moved back to the farm and Ted went off to Upper Canada College in Toronto, ON, to continue his education.

Ted was described by his good friend Bill Bennett as strong, athletic, and intelligent; a voracious reader who achieved academic and athletic acclaim. He was called "Zeus" in his final year as Head Steward of Wedd's House. According to Bill, Ted's smile also spelled mischief. One story was when he and a couple of bored boarders 'borrowed' a Bunsen burner with a couple of glass beakers from the chemistry classroom to distill some spirits. All was well, until around 2:00 a.m., an almighty basement blast awoke the entire house; the door of the luggage storeroom had been blown off with a certain amount of smoke and chaos following. The House Master and Vice-Principal Dr. (‘Skull’) Bassett ordered all the boarders to the Quad/Courtyard in their pajamas, where they were lined up for two hours. Skull stalked the lines to find the perpetrators with his cane at the ready, to no avail. Nobody spoke, nobody broke, nobody smiled, finally sent back to bed. A new storeroom door with a lock was installed.

Ted played football and hockey at UCC, and one of many memories he shared was playing in a hockey tournament at Princeton University. He was on a protected list for the New York Rangers before there was a draft. His father told him he would need to finish his university education before he entertained a career in professional hockey. Ted started his university education at the University of Toronto and after his first year, he transferred to the University of Alberta where he received a Bachelor of Economics. He enjoyed campus life and playing football so much that he stayed an extra year and got his teaching certificate. He taught school in Banff following his graduation, after his good friend Jack Sheilds phoned and said there was a shortage of teachers that year.

It wasn't until his grandfather told him that he was thinking of selling the farm that Ted and his brother Dick got together and took over the Allen farming operation. Ted was always an agent of change. After Dick’s tragic passing in a plane crash, Ted went on to run their farming operation and converted his dryland into irrigation.

He was active in politics and was particularly interested in agricultural policy. His roots in United Grain Growers (UGG) date back to his grandfather who was involved in the first local UGG board in Barnwell, AB, in 1912. His father was also a loyal UGG customer. In the mid-1960s, Ted attended his first UGG annual meeting as a delegate and after that, the passion for change only intensified. Ted was elected to the Board of Directors of UGG in 1973. He was elected Senior Vice-President and Chief Executive Officer of UGG in 1989. That same year, he was charged with conducting a complete review of the company’s management and future direction. He was elected President and Chairman in 1990. He was again elected President and Chairman of Agricore United upon the merger of UGG and Agricore on November 1, 2001.

In 2003, Ted announced his decision to step down from the position, after a long career in the grain industry. Ted’s passion for change and free markets was not limited to UGG and Agricore United. He was involved with the Canada Grains Council, the Canadian Grain Commission, and many trade initiatives from the initial Canada–United States Free Trade Agreement to the World Trade Organization.

From his dear friend, Larry Weber: “Ted will remain a legend in the grains industry for generations to come. His forthright, outspoken leadership, and direction, were the required entity to start the loosening of the single desk environment that farmers lived under for so long. His unwavering support of free markets carried forward to the Crow Rate debates and grain transportation. He took solace that he saw the end to single desk selling and the abolition of the Crow Rate while he was still here to observe the fruits of his labor and true to his character, never once exclaimed, I told you so.”

Ted fiercely loved his family, children, and grandchildren. He enjoyed socializing with friends and family, occasionally breaking into song, and sharing his adventurous spirit. Ted was an intelligent conversationalist with a rational outlook, who was always available for a chat when anyone wanted his perspective. Ted welcomed time for impromptu visits and calls with his family when any one of them needed advice. He was a good provider, ensuring his family was well taken care of. His fashion sense was unique, going from a polo to surprising us in a satin shirt, or into a fringed leather jacket. He was fiercely independent and marched to the beat of his own drum. We will miss him.

Besides his loving wife Holly, Ted is survived by his five children, Tania Allen (Arya Farinpour) of Chatsworth, CA, Megan Allen (Ryan Powell) of Calgary, AB, Katie Allen (Tanner Kautz) of Hanna, AB, Tedd Allen of Ventura, CA, Sean Allen (Anyssa Allen) of St. Catharines, ON; and four grandchildren, Kamran, Max, Leo, and Maeve. Ted is also survived by his sister Linda (Art Olivier) of Taber, AB, mother-in-law Jean Maguire of Lethbridge, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Ted was predeceased by his parents, Ted Allen Jr and Esther Allen; brother Richard (Dick) Allen, and father-in-law G. Wallace Maguire.

A Memorial Service will be arranged in the late spring-early summer of 2025; date to be determined.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Ted’s family here.

In living memory of Ted Allen III, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, Ab t2x 3j3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.