felt that Allen might be vulnerable in 1978; several filed to run against him in the 1978 Democratic primary. However, only days before the deadline for withdrawing from the primary race, Allen suffered a massive heart attack. All but one of his opponents then withdrew from the race as they were concerned about the possible repercussions of "kicking a man when he is down". On June 11, the day after the withdrawal deadline passed, Allen died. The only candidate who didn't withdraw from the race a few days earlier, State Senator Bill Boner, thus appeared alone on the Democratic primary ballot. While one of the erstwhile opponents, Elliot Ozment, then tried to conduct a write-in campaign, this proved totally futile, and Boner won the nomination, and in effect, election in November. Allen died at St. Thomas Hospital from complications of a heart attack on June 18, 1978. References External links 1912 births 1978 deaths Politics of Nashville, Tennessee Democratic Party Tennessee state senators Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Tennessee 20th-century American politicians