One of the oldest awards given by UT, the Allen Medal in Mathematics was established by John Mebane Allen in 1890 and continued following his death by his son, John M. Allen, and his daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Allen Lockwood. Prizes are still given to freshman mathematics scholars. Allen, a local businessman and former “math shark” of the university, served in the Civil War in Company C of the 4th Tennessee Infantry, was the first treasurer of UT’s YMCA in 1977, served as a director of the Holston Bank, and was a local businessman.