Class of 1997

Rev. Andre Allen

Chicago Lane Tech High School

Wrestler

From street gang member to scholar-athlete, college dropout to wrestling star, teacher and coach to minister and community leader, Andre has seen it all and become a positive influence on others. Growing up on Chicago's West Side, Andre attended Lane Tech and was second in the state as a senior in 1971. He also was the Junior National freestyle champion and fifth in the Junior World Cup that year. He went on to Northwestern University, where he wrestled for Hall of Famer Ken Kraft. He was Big Ten champion and twice third, and as a senior in 1975 placed second in the NCAA championships. He also was a three-time Illinois Open champion, Northern Open champion, and Midlands champion.

Now the pastor of the Second Baptist Church in Wheaton, Andre is very active in west Suburban religious and civic organizations. He serves as President of the Wheaton Community Relations Commission, West Suburban Evangelical Fellowship, and as coordinator of DuPage Voices for Racial Justice. He was a co-founder of the DuPage Media and Community Network, which works to improve press coverage of minorities, and was selected to be a member of Gov. Jim Edgar's Task Force for Human Services Reform-DuPage Federation. With his many community activities and the time he spends being a father to his five daughters, Andre still finds time to give back to wrestling as an assistant coach at Wheaton North High School.