Tom Allen’s (BA ’67) Enduring Legacy with Laurier Football

“Everybody likes to be a part of something,” Tom Allen says, wearing his Laurier Football ball cap, a gift from former coach Gary Jeffries.

To say Tom is just a part of Laurier Football is an understatement. As a student-athlete, educator, business leader and philanthropist, his decades-long commitment to Laurier reflects a quiet but powerful dedication to giving back to the program that helped shape his life.

Raised in Waterdown, Ontario, Tom played football and basketball for Waterdown District High School. A four-time SOSSA football champion and team MVP, Tom’s talent earned him an invitation to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats rookie camp and a grant-in-aid scholarship to Kent State University. While the U.S. college football experience ultimately wasn’t the right fit, it helped clarify where he belonged. After returning to Canada, he knew he didn’t want to work at Dofasco, and Laurier (then Waterloo Lutheran) was offering something more.

At Laurier, Tom played under legendary coaches Bob Celeri and David “Tuffy” Knight. In 1966, he helped lead the Golden Hawks to the College Bowl and was recognized with the Celeri Award for contributing most to athletics. He also may have won a milkshake or two off coach Celeri from their punting contests.

“The football program changed my life for the better,” says Tom. “From then on, Laurier was like a second home to me.”

Even at his second home, Tom faced the financial barriers many student-athletes do. Despite securing a student loan, his return to campus one year wasn’t a given until Bob Cereli stepped in to help him get a job as a residence don, solving the issue of room and board.

Tom never forgot about the support he received, and after an impressive career as a teacher and business leader, retirement brought Tom back to his second home again.

Working alongside former president Bob Rosehart, former athletics director Peter Baxter and fellow alumni, with a goal of building “the Notre Dame of Canada” as Rosehart put it, he helped establish the 5th Quarter Club and played a key role in launching the Legends of Laurier Football Gala. In the first four years, those efforts raised $130,000 in support of the football program.

For Tom, drawing a direct line from funding and support to success on the field is simple.

“A program is only as good as the alumni who support it,” says Tom. “There’s an old saying, ‘you dance with the one who brung you’, and if you don’t support the program the way others did for you, it might not exist for the future generations.”

In recognition of Tom’s leadership and generosity, his former staff established a football scholarship in his name. Today, the Tom Allen Family Foundation provides $5,000 annually to support a Laurier Football student-athlete, ensuring future Golden Hawks have opportunities like those Tom once received.

Tom was named Laurier Alumnus of the Year in 2005 and was inducted into the Laurier Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010 as a builder, both a testament to his impact with Laurier. He continues to give back today as a Laurier ambassador, helping recruit students to the university.

“Laurier is like a project for me to keep working on. The connection has always been there, and for me, it’s nice to know that it’s making a difference.”

During this pivotal time, the only way for our team to continue to thrive is through the support of our alumni and donors. If you are interested in helping support the Golden Hawks legacy like Tom, please consider making a donation or contacting Victoria Joseph, Director, Development for Student Affairs (vjoseph@wlu.ca), to learn more about giving options.