Allen, pioneer Las Vegan, civic leader dies at 93

Thursday, Feb. 5, 2004 | 8:37 a.m.

In 1929, high school sweethearts Margaret Gifford and Harry Allen eloped to Las Vegas.

They also fell in love with the town and helped guide Las Vegas through its formative years -- he as president and later chairman of Nevada Power and she as a socialite who took up causes for children, animals and her church.

Margaret E. Allen, who was widowed in 1985 but continued her philanthropic work with the Clark County Chapter of the American Red Cross and the Junior League, among other groups, died Monday of pneumonia at her Las Vegas home. She was 93.

Services for the Southern Nevada resident of 75 years are set for 10 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph Husband of Mary Catholic Church at Sahara Avenue and Tenaya Way.

"My mother was passionate about her causes, whether it was delivering Christmas toys to poor children with the Junior League or helping sick or abandoned animals," Peggy Rubidoux said.

"Whenever she would see a news story about an injured animal on TV, she would pull out her checkbook and help pay for the veterinary services."

Despite all of her mother's philanthropic and volunteer work, Rubidoux said she likely would prefer to be remembered as the family's loving matriarch.

Margaret met Harry Allen while both were students at San Diego High School.

Their romance blossomed during the Roaring '20s, when she was a flapper and he was working for a bank in San Diego. They came to Las Vegas when they were still teenagers.

During World War II, Margaret began a long period of volunteer work for the local American Red Cross, assisting the office staff "doing anything she could to help out," Rubidoux said.

Margaret's volunteer efforts included conducting wartime blood drives for the Red Cross and organizing World War II dances for the USO in Las Vegas.

Margaret also was a founding member of the Service Club that later became the Junior League. She served as its second president.

Margaret's other civic work also included fund-raising projects for St. Anne, Our Lady of Las Vegas and St. Joseph Husband of Mary Catholic churches.

She also did philanthropic work through the Las Vegas Country Club, where the Allens were members until his death.

In her later years, Margaret donated books and her vintage clothing, including her flapper dresses, to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

She also was a member of the Las Vegas Art League and became a respected amateur artist, working in oils and watercolors. She gave many of her paintings to family and friends, who today display her works in their homes.

In addition to her daughter, Allen is survived by a son-in-law, Tom Rubidoux Sr.; four grandchildren, Liz Freedman and her husband Alan, Peggie Groom and her husband John, Monica Laman and her husband Robert and Tom Rubidoux Jr., and his wife Linda; 11 great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.

The family said donations can be made in Margaret E. Allen's memory to St. Joseph Husband of Mary Catholic Church or the Lied Animal Foundation shelter.