... Allen started out with the Houston Buffs as a parking lot attendant during the 1930's. By 1946, his hard work and pure genius as a promoter had earned him the title of President. Allen Russell served as Buffs President from 1946 to 1953, leading the club to attendance records that surpassed the American League St. Louis Browns. After guiding the Buffs through the seven golden years of minor league baseball that flourished from the end of World War II until the coming of the television era, Russell still operated successful teams in Beaumont and Austin before returning to Houston and several more years of entrepreneurial success in other businesses. With his wife Jo, Allen founded the the annual Houston Baseball Dinners years ago. He remained a force in Houston's baseball community until the very end of his life in 1996. No one loved baseball more than Allen Russell - and no one else did more for the sport in Houston.