

Ralph Allen has led a challenging life as a sailor, corporate vice president
and treasurer, and as a jail chaplain. A native of Wichita, Kansas, Allen
graduated from Friends University in Wichita and served in the US Navy from
1950-54. He saw three years of service in Korea, and has the UN Service Medal,
Korean Ribbon with six combat stars, and the Korean Presidential Unit Citation.
He is a Certified Addictions Counselor.
Allen was the first official jail chaplain of Sedgwick County Jail, appointed
in 1979 by Sheriff Johnnie Darr. He was designated Chaplain Coordinator by
Sheriff Mike Hill on March 1, 1984. He received a retirement plaque from Mike
Hill in 1993 for almost nineteen years of service.
He was awarded the Liberty Bell Award from the Wichita Young Lawyers
Association, 1985; the Citizen Recognition Award from the Kansas Correctional
Association, 1987; and the Bronze Medal for Outstanding Service by the Sheriffs
Department, 1988.
Allen lives with his wife, Verla. They have five children and seven
grandchildren. He is the author of two non-fiction books, Flight of a
Wandering Sparrow and Sparrows Song, and his favorite hobby is
writing short fiction and poetry in his book-lined study.
A Message from the Author
Write the author: rvallen@fiest.com