Roll Call Tribute

Allen L. Messenger 

May 16, 1952 - January 22, 2023 

Allen Messenger passed away on January 22, 2023 at his home near Lick Creek Ranch on the Pedernales River. Allen was a native Texan, born on May 16, 1952 in Corpus Christi.

He grew up in Deer Park, Texas and graduated from Clear Lake High School. Allen earned his BS in Biology from Stephen F. Austin University and his MS degree from Texas A&M University in Civil Engineering. After graduate school, he moved to Austin and worked for a small engineering firm where he met his wife, Robin. Thereafter, Allen worked at the Texas Department of Water Resources (TDWR) where he was responsible for developing some of the State's first regulations and standards for industrial solid waste disposal as Head of the Land Disposal Unit. After working for the TDWR and another large consulting firm, Allen opened his own consulting firm, AM Environmental LLP, which operated until his death. Allen was a highly capable and practical consultant who assisted a wide variety of clients in solving complex environmental and engineering problems. His confident nature, technical knowledge, and previous experience as a Texas government regulator served his clients well. He was also a proud Aggie who never failed to give his friends who attended that other major Texas university a lot of bull.

In 1981, he and his wife Robin moved from Austin to their little slice of heaven in the Texas hill country. Allen was skilled in a number of building trades and did much of the construction work on their house in the country. Allen and Robin also had a soft heart for animals. They were parents to numerous dogs and adopted many rescues.

Allen enjoyed a few long standing traditions, including an annual trip to the Big Bend country of West Texas and northern Mexico. Every year for almost 50 years, he would make the trek with friends to enjoy the vast open spaces of the Chihuahuan desert. As he expressed it, he enjoyed being "one with the desert". Allen earned the rank of Eagle Scout and this training stayed with him his entire life. As an example, he would build a campfire of some type whenever he camped. He loved a good campfire and especially telling stories around it. Allen was also an avid reader and, when the desert sun and heat demanded it, he would find some shade and read his latest book.

One of his favorite get togethers was a monthly poker game for more than 40 years with former coworkers who became good friends and in recent years made the trek to Big Bend with him.

Allen had a great appreciation for music of all kinds. He played the saxophone and his collection of vinyl was unsurpassed, having scoured the used records at Goodwill on a regular basis. Allen had numerous listening sessions at his man cave where he shared his record collection, his superior stereo system, and the "like being there" quality of the music.

Allen never failed to give you his opinions and one of those opinions was that he knew the best way to do things, such as how to burn a brisket or what was necessary camping gear on a trip to Big Bend. However, if you could prove him wrong, he could accept that, a sign of great intelligence.

Allen will be remembered for his generous spirit, incredible wit, as a loyal and faithful husband and a great friend. Despite his tough battle with cancer, he faced his disease stoically and rarely shared his burden with others. At the same time, he cared lovingly for Robin until she passed just a few months prior to him. Although Allen and Robin did not have any children, they leave a family of good friends who will remember them.

Allen is survived by his two brothers, Austin and David. A private memorial for friends and family will be held in May to remember Allen and Robin.