Some people run from the Lord, while others race for His glory.
EUNICE – Some
people run from the Lord, while others race for His glory.
Allen Carrier
grew up the son of a Southern Baptist minister and the influence of his parents
is still evident in his life even after their deaths.
The son of the
late Rev. Gabriel and Verdie Lavergne Carrier, Allen is an active member of Emmanuel Baptist
Church in Eunice.
His father
Gabriel died in 2004 at the age of 90 after 54 years of ministry, including 34
years as pastor of Lejeune Memorial in Eunice. The pastor also had a radio
program on KEUN for 53 years.
Carrier was born
in Church Point in 1937 and his family lived there; his father was a meat
cutter before accepting the call to be the pastor of Lejeune Memorial in 1950.
“I remember the
Christian background that my mother and daddy had,” Carrier said. “It was
mandatory we went to church Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night.
That was a must even before he became a minister and we were members of First
Baptist Church of Church Point.”
Carrier became a
Christian at age 15 and was baptized by his father, an event Allen said he will
always remember.
While the son
didn’t follow in his father’s footsteps as a minister, Allen served others in
the health profession.
“Christian
principles was a way of life in my upbringing,” Carrier said of his family
life. “My parents taught me right from wrong and led me on the right road.”
While taking care
of others was his life’s calling as a health care professional, running is
Allen’s passion.
Starting as a
youngster in Church Point, Carrier continued his running at Eunice High and
still hits the track daily in preparation for competition and to keep in shape.
Carrier, 66, is
to compete in the Senior Olympics June 26-29 in Louisville, Ky.
This is his second trip to the national event. He finished 10th in the 100
meters at Tuscon, Ariz.
in 1999.
Carrier began
competing in the senior games in 1996. He said he feels his best chance to win
at this year’s national championships is in the field events.
“I think I have a
chance in the long jump and the triple jump,” he said of the nationals. “In the
100 meters, I will have tough competition because I will be against former
college champions.”
At the district
meet in Lafayette,
he won five gold medals – his first sweep in competition. He captured titles in
the 50 meters, 100 meters, high jump, long jump and triple jump.
At the state meet
at LSU in Baton Rouge, Carrier won
gold medals in the triple jump and the 1,500 meters to go with a silver medal
in the long jump and two bronze medals in the 50 and 100 meters.
When Carrier is
not competing himself, he is involved as a volunteer official in high school
meets and assists at the collegiate level.
“When I was a
young runner, my mother would come to watch me all the time,” Carrier said.
“She was in the stands and I knew she was there. There is nothing that means
more to an athlete than to see or know his mother or father is in the stands.
“Parental support
is the number one thing. While I see a lot of parents that are there at the
meets, there are also a lot more that should be there but they aren’t.”
With running
races and working track meets, Carrier said he never plans to just sit down.
His advice to other senior adults is to “not sit around at home. That is the
worst thing you can do.” he said. “You get addicted to sitting on the couch and
watching television.
“The days I don’t
exercise, there is something that tugs at me like I did something wrong,” the
runner added. “If I can get others to run like me, I feel I have accomplished
something.”
Carrier said his
parents and track both taught him life lessons.
“You should set
yourself a goal and strive for that goal,” he said. “You should never quit.
“Believe in
yourself, but also let God take over.”