Sometimes the best introductions happen by chance. I met Denny Allen when I stopped by Cresswind to learn more about the community, and although it wasn’t his job, he volunteered to show me around with a warmth and generosity that immediately stood out. As I got to know him, I discovered that the same spirit has defined his life—from growing up in West Virginia and spending a lifetime around football to more than five decades of marriage, countless hours of volunteer service, and a genuine desire to make life better for others. Denny reminds us that some of the people who make the biggest difference in a community aren’t looking for recognition—they’re simply looking for ways to help.
Q: Tell us a little bit about your life here in Gainesville.
I am a retired active person who enjoys walking and volunteering to better life and life experiences for others. I have been giving blood donations since 1973 since I required 9 pints of blood because of an auto accident. The accident caused a huge change in my thoughts about life in assisting me to learn to have setbacks, set goals, develop plans, and then work to the best of your abilities toward achieving the goals.
We have lived in Gainesville at the Cresswind Lake Lanier community for eleven years.
Q: What do you do/did for a living and what do you like most about it?
Most of my days of employment and volunteer work were centered around community service positions because of my upbringing and lifetime experiences. I served as a physical therapist, high school teacher, before serving as a warehouse manager my last eighteen years of employment and have relished the opportunity to give back to the community by assisting at various food banks for the last thirty-two years. Was introduced to food security by my grandfather who was a farmer when we would load his wagon with fruits and vegetables take it into town on Saturdays and join other community farmers giving the food out to those in need. Today I still participate in volunteer work at Georgia Mountain Food Bank.
Q: What advice would you want to give or leave with people?
Always work to the best of your abilities in school and employment; remember to always give back to your community assisting to make life better others
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Still contributing to the community with volunteer work.
Q: If reading for pleasure, what do you like?
Enjoy reading technical journals on how products are made
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
Reacher, Outlander, action movies and enjoy seeing the better and happier side of life so I do watch Hallmark movies
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
Ireland and Scotland to research that portion of my ancestry.
Q: What is the most beautiful place in the world you have already visited?
Alaska and West Virginia
Q: Who, in our community, do you think is happy and positive and would be a great next interview for this project? This person will be your nomination!*
Tom Flame
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about Hall County? And secondly, what is something you hope we have or do in the future?
Lake Lanier, the mountains on the horizon, the willingness of people to assist others
Q: What is your go to band/music choice?
John Denver
Q: What are two or three of your favorite smells?
A field of fresh strawberries and a field of freshly cut grass
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
My wife; her loving kindness, ability to be concerned for others, her faith in God, her love for our families.
Q: If you were given ONE EXTRA HOUR every day – one more hour than anyone else in the world gets – and you could not use it for sleep, work, or with anyone else, what would you use it for?
To walk. Giving me a chance to contemplate and get exercise
Q: What is something on your bucket list or something you checked off the list?
Visiting and seeing Alaska
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
Georgia Mountain Food Bank
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today (and not a relative); with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
Jim Donnelly, who was a close friend in high school; later a software entrepreneur, designer in Silicon Valley. Would enjoy conversing about his career choice, the ability to develop his idea for software, how he composed the solution for the software and how he was able to develop the prototype, sell the idea, and get it manufactured.
Q: If a movie or series was made about your life, who would you choose to play your role?
Anyone who has had a similar background: country kid, athletic, someone who has survived a life/death accident, someone who continually pushes forward and assists others to better themselves.
Q: Favorite month? Favorite holiday? And the absolute best single day on the calendar?
May 27, 1970 – The day I met my future wife
Q: Finally, who inspires you to be better?
My wife, Joyce.
I hope you enjoyed meeting or getting to know Denny a little more!
If you know someone great that you would like to nominate to be a FACE of Hall County, click here: https://abernathycochran.com/nominate/. THANK YOU!
-Brad Abernathy
