To request a copy of this photo for your own personal use, please contact our state coordinator. If you are not a family member or the original photographer — please refrain from copying or distributing this photo to other websites.
Thank you for visiting the Texas Gravestone Photo Project. On this site you can upload gravestone photos, locate ancestors and perform genealogy research. If you have a relative buried in Texas, we encourage you to upload a digital image using our Submit a Photo page. Contributing to this genealogy archive helps family historians and genealogy researchers locate their relatives and complete their family tree.
Submitted: 2/1/21 • Approved: 2/2/21 • Last Updated: 2/5/21 • R385042-G0-S3
Green Berets
Vietnam
January 7, 1935 - May 6, 1970
Four Purple Hearts
Veteran of Vietnam where he served with the Green Berets. He is the recipient of four Purple Hearts.
Our Dad and Son
Photo, courtesy of Edith Guynes Stanley
*Obituary
BORGER - Allen Greer, 35, a native of Phillips whose baritone voice has been heard countless times by millions of people, was shot to death Tuesday night.
Truman Smith, 24, a resident of the Virginia Apartments in Borger, was arraigned on a charge of murder with malice shortly after 11 a.m. today before Hutchinson County Justice of the Peace Sam Watson, who set bond at $25,000.
Greer was shot seven times at close range with a .22 revolver, said Hutchinson County Sheriff Hugh Anderson.
"There were wounds from his rib cage to his head," he said.
Officials said the shooting apparently took place about midnight at the north end of the Hutchinson County Airport runway about 1 mile north of the Borger city limits.
Sheriff Anderson said Smith surrendered himself and a revolver to city police about 1:30 a.m. and led them to Greer's body which was lying face down on the runway.
Greer was pronounced dead at the scene by Judge Watson.
Smith was identified as being a veteran of Vietnam where he served with the Green Berets. He is the recipient of four Purple Hearts.
Investigators said Smith and Greer were last seen together at the home, Greer's estranged wife, Dala, who also lives in the Virginia Apartments. Greer had filed for a divorce from his wife on March 19.
Smith was remanded [sic] to the Hutchinson County jail at noon today in lieu of bond.
Greer, who graduated from Phillips High School in 1953, where he lettered in football, had returned to Borger Sunday to visit his parents, Mr. and Mrs. R.M. Greer of 509 Bowie.
The singer and musician recently had been working with the Penny Mayer Talent Agency, which is based in Las Vegas, Nev.
He was billed as a 'rock' singer with a musical group known at [sic] the "Pryde and the Passion". The group sang last weekend at Albuquerque and was scheduled to appear in Phoenix this weekend.
After graduating from high school, Greer attended Tyler Junior College for one year and then transferred to West Texas State University, where he when to school on a music scholarship.
In 1957, Greer appeared on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour - and won. He made a guest appearance on an ABC television show and was awarded a six-year recording contract by the studio.
During the next few years he appeared in numerous night clubs and supper clubs in Dallas and New York.
Greer was a member of the State Fair Performing Co. at Dallas and appeared in several musicals, including "Fanny," "Annie Get Your Gun," "South Pacific" and "Rose Marie." He worked with many musical and movie greats, including Mary Martin and Jack Carson.
He was master of ceremonies for hundreds of gatherings, meeting, dinners, banquets, conventions, barbecues and other events.
He was also an accomplished song writer and musician and will be remembered in Borger for composing the son, "Borger My Hometown" which is still being used to publicize the "all-America City"
Greer was among those who tried to organize a Little Theatre movement in Pampa, and for many years he was a disc jockey, announcer and salesman for Radio Station KBBB in Borger. He had also worked for KHUZ.
Several years ago Greer formed a musical combo and singing group called the "velvet Sound," which appeared at the Continental Club in Amarillo.
Funeral services for Greer are pending with Simpson Funeral Home of Borger.
On [sic] addition to his parents and wife, he is survived by two children, a daughter, Shawn, 9, and a son Kevin, 7, both of Borger.
(Published in The Amarillo Globe-Times (Amarillo, Texas) - 06 May 1970, Wed - Page 1 & 10)
-----
Texas Birth Index, 1903-1997
Name: Allen Dee Greer
Date of Birth: 7 Jan 1935
Gender: Male
Birth County: Wheeler
Father's Name: R M Greer
Mother's Name: Doyce Willingham
Roll Number: 1935_0003
Texas Death Index, 1903-2000
Name: Allen Greer
Death Date: 6 May 1970
Death County: Hutchinson
Gender: Male
Contributed on 2/1/21 by neldapat
Email This Contributor
Suggest a Correction
Record #: 385042