TEXARKANA, Texas -- Texas A&M University-Texarkana has lost one of its longtime professors of biology.
Dr. David Allard died after a battle with COVID-19 and pneumonia on Friday, Nov. 24, surrounded by his family.
TAMU-T President Dr. Ross Alexander said Allard contributed immensely to the development of the science teacher education program at the university.
"His teacher quality grants brought more than a million dollars in grants over several years to empower the teacher education programs," Alexander said. "His tireless work and dedication to our teacher education program has produced dozens of excellent teachers in science education who are serving as biology teachers in northeast Texas school districts."
Allard, an El Paso, Texas, native, joined TAMU-T in 1997 and served as dean of graduate studies and research. He was also a biology professor at Texarkana College.
Dr. Mark Storey is an associate professor of biology at TC and met Allard in 1992.
"He was my main influence and my go-to for all things biology, teaching-wise, and his office was right across the hall from mine," Storey said. "That was a great thing for me as a young teacher just out of graduate school, and he was a wonderful friend and has been my friend ever since."
Storey said Allard was the only professor to ever be jointly appointed as a faculty member at TC and TAMU-T, after starting at TC in 1983 and transitioning over to TAMU-T fully in 2000.
"He was just so influential," Storey said. "Go to any school district in our region and talk to the folks that teach science and they all know Dr. Allard. ... Many had him as a teacher, as a mentor. He is just instrumental in so many people's lives."
Dr. Nurul Alam is also professor of biology at TAMU-T and had known Allard since 2006.
"He was a great colleague and basically my mentor," Alam said. "I learned a lot of different tools with technology from him over the years."
Alam said Allard received multiple awards, including the Distinguished Faculty Award and the Chancellor's Teaching Excellence Award.
Allard additionally made contributions to TAMU-T's pre-health program by advising and writing multiple letters of recommendations for students.
"Dr. David Allard was well known as a student-oriented professor who went above and beyond the call of duty," Alexander said. "As we mourn the loss of our friend and colleague, we extend our deepest sympathies to the Allard family."
Allard leaves behind his wife of 18 years, Ellen, his son, Jason, his daughter, Catherine, as well as her husband Joshua, his stepson Jordan Angell and his wife Brittney and grandchildren Elisha, Alea, Malachi and Asher Angell.
Allard's memorial service is scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30, at Williams Memorial United Methodist Church, 4000 Moores Lane in Texarkana, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, his family has asked that donations be made to the David and Ellen Allard Endowed Scholarship, which will support students studying biology at TAMU-T.
To learn more about the endowed scholarship fund, visit tamut.edu/give/index.html.