Marty Allen Hometown: Grand Rapids, Michigan High School: Catholic Central (Grand Rapids) Position: Advisor Monogram Earned: Student Manager (Football)

Former Notre Dame student manager Marty Allen - who served as the senior manager for the Irish football team in 1957 - has been a longtime leader of the Monogram Club board, first serving as a board member and then serving six years as part of the president rotation (including as president from '97-'98) before assuming his current role as a trusted advisor. During his time on as an advisor, Allen has been involved in numerous areas, including the Sports Heritage Hall and the awards program.

Currently the chairman of the Gerald R. Ford Foundation in his native Grand Rapids, Mich., Allen graduated from Notre Dame in 1958 with a bachelor of science degree. After serving two years on active duty as an officer in the U.S. Navy, he retired with a rank of lieutenant commander from the U.S. Naval Reserve and went on to earn his MBA from Michigan State in 1962.

Allen was a product manager for Baxter Laboratories in Morton Grove, Ill., before returning to his hometown and joining Old Kent Bank and Trust Company in 1966. He eventually became senior vice-president, director of planning and development, and secretary of the corporation. During his 31 years with the bank and its holding company, Allen was integrally involved in Old Kent's efforts to nurture the development of the Grand Rapids community and the West Michigan region.

He has given generously to the benefit of many Grand Rapids projects, including the Grand Action Committee (executive committee), the DeVos Place Convention Center and Van Andel Arena building committees (vice chair) and the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame (trustee). He also is a member of the advisory committee of the National Archives on Presidential Libraries

Allen graduated from Catholic Central High School before heading off to Notre Dame, where he served as the head football manager during the 1957 season that saw the Irish end Oklahoma's NCAA-record 47-game winning streak.

He was awarded Aquinas College's prestigious Reflection Award and was granted emeritus trustee status at the school in 2003, following nine years of service as a trustee. Allen has received commendations from the President of the United States for his exceptional service to others and the many other awards he has received include: Bank Marketing Hall of Fame from the American Bankers Association, University of Notre Dame Exemplar Award and the Notre Dame Alumni Association's Harvey Foster Award, presented to former monogram winners in recognition of distinguished service.

Allen and his wife Sue have three children: Mike, Steve and Kat.