By Harry Minium
Sonny Allen, who won Old Dominion University's first national championship, built the foundation for ODU's successful Division I basketball debut and integrated Virginia college basketball, passed away peacefully this morning in Reno, Nev.
Allen, 84, had suffered for years from Parkinson's Disease and his son, Billy Allen, said the disease had worsened in recent months. Allen's wife, Donna, and four children, including daughters Jackie Eldrenkamp, Kelly Marcantel and Jennifer Allen, were in Reno when he passed, as were step children Jimmy Warner and Tedi Holdmann.
Allen is also survived by eight grandchildren and five great grandsons.