FORT BENNING, Ga., (Jan. 14, 2015) -- The Fort Benning community lost a key member Jan. 1, as Maneuver Center of Excellence Museum Division chief Stephen Allie passed away at the age of 54 after a 14-month battle with lymphoma.
His passing came as a surprise to many, including his colleagues at the Museum Division.
"We didn't have any idea that this was going to happen," said Frank Hanner, National Infantry Museum director. "We just thought he was hopefully going to be able to retire and go back home to Kansas. He'd bought a lake house, and was looking forward to going back home."
According to his obituary, Allie's love of history started early in life with visits to battlefields and historic sites across the country with his parents, a habit and interest that would carry on throughout his life. Steve met his wife, Christy, at a Civil War re-enactment, and the couple married in 1984.
Allie started his career at the Wyandotte County Museum in Bonner Springs, Kansas, and then joined the Frontier Army Museum at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where he worked for the next 26 years. During this time, the museum became the first Army museum accredited by the American Alliance of Museums.
"He loved collections management and making sure that the artifacts were properly stored in a climate-controlled environment," Hanner said. "He always wanted to make sure that what we had was well protected for the future so that long after we were all gone, there would still be a World War I uniform or Indian War uniform.
"That goes back to his time at Fort Leavenworth, where he helped to put together one of the ... best 19th century collection of artifacts that reflected what the Army was on the frontier of the United States. He really was determined to do the best that he possibly could with the little bit of funding he got."
In 2010, he became MCoE Museum Division chief. During his time at Fort Benning, his colleagues said he left a lasting impression.
"I always told him he was one of the better directors I'd had in more than 20 years with the government," said Shenita Miller. "He was so professional and his expertise was top of the line. Words can't describe how his role in my career helped to make me a better worker. ... He just left his fingerprint on everybody."
"When I came here, I was a little intimidated because I knew Steve's reputation," Justin Batt said. "But from day one, along with the rest of my colleagues here, he always made me feel welcome, so my intimidation was quickly gone."
Allie was also instrumental in the creation of the National Armor and Museum Gallery and the expansion of the Armor Restoration Center.
"Today, thanks to his efforts, we have more vehicles under cover and protected than they did at Fort Knox," Hanner said.
Joseph Johnson, a member of the ARC team, said Allie would make frequent visits to the ARC.
"He'd come down to our shop every once in a while, but he wouldn't come as the director of the museum division," Johnson said. "He came more to hang out with the guys. He wasn't coming to check on us. It was always nice to see him drive up. Some supervisors drive up and everybody runs the other way. When he came, he'd come in and talk with us. If he was interested in something we were doing or working on, we'd show him and he would try to learn from us."
Hanner agreed that Allie was friendly and easy to get along with.
"He was never pretentious and never tried to put on airs," Hanner said. "He loved our country, and wanted to make sure that the history of the country was protected."
Despite his passing, Allie's legacy will live on at the NIM, as he worked extensively on a gallery that has yet to open.
"His big goal was to get this last gallery - Gallery Two - put in," Hanner said. He had very diligently worked on that. He had a lot of thoughts about how it should be done. We're going to do our best to carry it out the way he wanted it done."
Steve is survived by his wife, Christy Allie, son, Patrick Allie of St. Louis, Missouri, mother, Florence Allie of Overland Park, Kansas, and sisters, Maureen Donegan of Olathe, Kansas, and Carroll Hosch of Gardner, Kansas.
Ed Annable, the museum division's chief registrar, said Allie was particularly proud of his son.
"(Hanner) and I went to lunch with him a few months back, and he spoke about his recollection of when his son was born and how much he thought of his son," he said.
An endowment is being established in honor of Allie at the University of Oklahoma.
It will provide scholarships for students seeking a master's degree in museum studies from the university. Contributions to the endowment can be made at www.gofundme.com/steveallie.
Online condolences may be made at www.barnettfamilyfh.com.
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