Francis A. Allen--Dean and Colleague

Frank Allen was chosen as Dean at Michigan during my first year on the Law School faculty. I had never met him but my colleagues had provided splendid reports about his work and about him personally. I was also impressed by his response to our inquiry concerning his possible interest in the deanship. He said he had established a couple of conditions for being a dean anywhere.

First, it would have to be at a school to which he felt a special attachment. Second, it would have to be at an institution where he felt he could make some particular contribution.