ASTONISHING EXPERIENCES

About the Book

Most adults are familiar with the quote “a picture is worth a thousand words,” which coincides with the intent of this book to share my astonishing experiences with mostly color pictures. While writing this book, I enjoyed revisiting some of the pictures you are about to see as you stroll through the ten chapters. I decided to write each chapter chronologically; however, the document consists of selected noteworthy topics covering my grade school days until the present time. This document presented an opportunity to share how a Black male moved through local, state, and national systems that discriminated against minorities. I recorded my astonishing experiences, from being raised in Clinton Park, to moving to upscale Timber Crest, to serving in the military, to coping with employment, surviving three marriages, and holding membership in four churches. These experiences provide exceptional peace and joy to my life as well trouble and sorrow as I have lived beyond seventy years old. God’s grace and mercy carried me to where I am, and with great delight, I present to you my astonishing life experiences.

About the Author

ASTONISHING EXPERIENCES The Connection Shared By Clinton Park,, a Sweetheart Wife,, and Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church About the Author Dr. Mitchell Allen is a deacon at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, former academician at Houston Independent school District and professor and administrator at Texas Southern University. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Texas Southern University, Master of Science from Prairie View A&M University, and Doctor of Education from University of Houston. His professional career began as a teacher at Woodson Junior High School, where he taught drafting for 4 years and ended at Texas Southern University as a professor of Industrial Technology and an administrator (Interim Dean – College of Science and Technology) after 35 years of service. Some of the positions he held at TSU include Administrative Assistant to the Registrar, Coordinator, Design Technology, Chairman, Department of Industrial Technologies, and Assistant Dean. He received several including “Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award & Dean’s Award for Excellence: School of Technology,” and was selected Who’s Who Among American Teachers 2000, 2002. Dr. Allen’s religious activities encompass serving as a Deacon and Sunday School Teacher at McGee Chapel Baptist Church, Sunday and Vacation Bible School Teacher at Brentwood Baptist Church, and presently at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, Sunday School/Vacation Bible School Teacher, Co-Chair Educational Grant Committee, and as mentioned, serve on the Board of Deacons. He is a native Houstonian, married to Anna Irene (Sweetheart) Trotter, and is blessed with two sons, Mitchell Derek and Marcus Renaud; grandchildren, Christian Derek, Micheala Carmoni, Isaiah Renaud, Noah Mitchell, Legend Ni’core Alaniz (step-grandson); godchildren, Cameron Alexander and Cydney Alyse.