Dr. Tom Allen discovered the sport of wrestling in 1975 when he started a kids wrestling program in Western Springs, Illinois.

He assisted the principal of McClure Junior High as the program took root with Allen's seven-year-old son, Rod, as one of the first participants.

Allen eventually became the wrestling physician for Lyons Township High School in La Grange, Illinois.

He was the wrestling physician for both Camden and Sterling high schools in New Jersey from 1987 to 1991 before relocating to Oklahoma in 1991.

"Doc Allen" as he is affectionately known, joined Dr. Donald Cooper on the bench for Oklahoma State wrestling until becoming the team physician for the Cowboys in 1998, a position he still holds.

For his longtime devotion to the health of wrestlers, Dr. Tom Allen is honored with the Lifetime Service Award by the Oklahoma Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.