--- title: HR 614. Allen, Lecester "Bill"; condolences collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr614 cite_as: HR 614, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr614 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr614.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr614/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71434 date: 2025-03-18 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr613.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr615.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr614.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 614 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-18 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Sandra Scott - Viola Davis - Kim Schofield text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR614/2025 upstream_id: 2010610 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - condolence resolution - Georgia House of Representatives - Stonecrest Georgia - education entrepreneurship --- # HR 614. Allen, Lecester "Bill"; condolences ## Text 25 LC 112 3397 House Resolution 614 By: Representatives Scott of the 76th, Davis of the 87th, and Schofield of the 63rd A RESOLUTION Honoring the life and memory of Lecester "Bill" Allen; and for other purposes.1 WHEREAS, the State of Georgia mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished citizens2 with the passing of Lecester "Bill" Allen; and3 WHEREAS, after graduating from Wayne State University, Bill began his career as a teacher4 in the Detroit Public School System, made his first real estate investment, and later started5 a daycare business with his wife, Mattie, which expanded to 14 locations; and6 WHEREAS, by 1984, Bill and Mattie Allen extended their business to K-12th grade private7 schools at the request of parents and students, graduating their first high school class in 19888 and converting four schools into charter schools by 1994; and9 WHEREAS, in 1999, the Allens expanded their school and real est ate holdings across the10 United States, serving over 12,000 students at 30 locations in more than 20 cities and seven11 states through both their for-profit and 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations; and12 WHEREAS, in the pursuit of supporting minority- and women-owned businesses, the Allens13 created the Allen Entrepreneurial Institute (AEI) at Camp Exposure, a 150-acre complex in14 H. R. 614 - 1 - 25 LC 112 3397 Stonecrest, Georgia, featuring a state-of-the-art conference center, private hotel/dormitory,15 and a five-story antebellum mansion/conference center named Miss Rebecca's House; and16 WHEREAS, since its inception in 2001, AEI has educated over 10, 000 K-12 students and17 young adult entrepreneurs from across the globe, including local K-12 school groups, over18 30 Historical Black Colleges & Universities, and entrepreneurs from more than 20 African19 countries; and20 WHEREAS, in 2017, as an extension of the AEI, the Allens establ ished the AEI StartUp21 Factory, a co-working and event space adjacent to the Mall at Stonecrest; and22 WHEREAS, Lecester "Bill" Allen possessed the vast wisdom which only comes through23 experience and the strength of character which is achieved by o vercoming the many24 challenges of life; and25 WHEREAS, a compassionate and generous man, Lecester "Bill" Alle n will long be26 remembered for his love of family, friendship, and community and will be missed by all who27 had the great fortune of knowing him.28 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that29 the members of this body join in honoring the life and memory of Lecester "Bill" Allen and30 express their deepest and most sincere regret at his passing.31 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized32 and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the33 family of Lecester "Bill" Allen.34 H. R. 614 - 2 - ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A House resolution honors the life of Lecester "Bill" Allen, a Georgia educator and entrepreneur, and offers condolences to his family after his passing. ### Plain-language summary This resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives is a formal tribute to Lecester "Bill" Allen, who built a career in education and business, including founding schools and the Allen Entrepreneurial Institute in Stonecrest, Georgia. It recounts his life story, from teaching in Detroit to expanding schools and real estate holdings across the country. The resolution does not change any law. It formally expresses the House's sympathy over his death and directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to send a copy of the resolution to his family. ### What it does - Formally honors the life and memory of Lecester "Bill" Allen on behalf of the Georgia House of Representatives. - Recounts his career as an educator, real estate investor, and founder of schools and the Allen Entrepreneurial Institute. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to his family. - Expresses the House's sincere regret at his passing but creates no new law, funding, or program. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names the family of Lecester "Bill" Allen, who will receive the copy of the resolution, and the Clerk of the House of Representatives, who is tasked with preparing it. It has no effect on the general public or Georgia law. ### Why it matters This is a symbolic honor rather than a policy change. It affects only the Allen family, who receive an official acknowledgment of his life and contributions, and does not alter any rights, funding, or requirements for Georgians generally. ### Key provisions - The preamble recounts Allen's career, including founding schools that became charter schools and the Allen Entrepreneurial Institute in Stonecrest, Georgia. - The resolving clause formally expresses the House's regret at his passing and honors his memory. - A further resolving clause directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to distribute a copy of the resolution to his family. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-03-18) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-03-18) - Sponsors: Sandra Scott, Viola Davis, Kim Schofield - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71434 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr614.md?full=1