Historical Happenings

In the early 1900s, William and Mary Allen brought their 6 sons from Jamesport, Mo and chose 1st Methodist for their own.  Their oldest son, Forrest Clare, graduated from Independence High School (now William Chrisman) in 1904.  He entered Kansas University (KU) in 1904 and lettered in basketball and baseball at the university.  You may recognize Forrest better by his nickname – Phog Allen - who is the world renown KU basketball coach. The home basketball arena at KU was named in his honor – Allen Fieldhouse – when it opened in 1955.