It is with fondness, respect and great admiration that we remember one of the great leaders of our firm, Mr. George E. “Ted” Allen, III. Reflections by P. Christopher Guedri, colleague and friend.
Growing up in a family of lawyers, Ted graduated from the University of Virginia and its law school in 1973. Soon thereafter, Ted joined the firm. Under the guidance of his dad, George Allen, Jr., and the mentorship of the great Cary Branch, Ted soon came to be recognized as an exceptional trial attorney and advocate. For more than 40 years, Ted dedicated his professional life to his clients. His extraordinary abilities were only exceeded by his work ethic – Ted was often the first one in the office and the last to leave. While maintaining an active law practice, Ted served as the firm’s president from 1990 to 1999. Under his leadership, new offices were opened throughout central Virginia, thereby expanding the firm’s footprint and its ability to serve and protect more of the wrongfully injured. From 1993-1994, Ted served as the president of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association. He was also named as a fellow in the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, an invitation only association of lawyers throughout the world whose membership is limited to 500 attorneys.
Throughout his career, Ted represented hundreds of seriously injured clients with uncompromising compassion, devotion, and exceptional skill. Those that he represented were truly blessed.
Ted’s commitment to the law and his clients was exceeded only by his commitment to his family and his church. He worshiped Anne Cary, his wife of 39 years, their three children, Cary, Will and David and his grandchildren, Clyde, Grace and Noel. He cherished the vacations the family took to many of our national parks and the many weekends they shared together at his “home away from home” on Antipoison Creek in Whitestone, Virginia.
Ted was a faithful and devoted member of First Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher for many years.
Two years ago, Ted was diagnosed with an incurable neuro-muscular disorder. As his body became increasingly weak, his faith never wavered. He remained positive – thankful for the life and family he was blessed with. Ted truly lived a life that mattered and died with dignity on March 29, 2017. A better man I have never known.
