Adrian E. Allison, chief relationship officer at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, is a proud graduate of the Canton City School District. He would later become the youngest superintendent and the first African American to serve in that role.
Allison, 54, and his family now reside in Jackson Township. He has been married for 28 years to his college sweetheart, Krista. They have two daughters, both of whom are McKinley High School and The Ohio State University graduates: Averi (who also earned her master’s degree from Carnegie Mellon University) and Anastasia.
He graduated from Baldwin-Wallace University and then followed his girlfriend (now his wife) to law school at Case Western Reserve University. Allison began his career as an Ohio assistant attorney general, then served as an executive at the Ohio Department of Education and eventually joined the Canton City School District before becoming superintendent in 2013. He joined the Hall of Fame in 2019.
“No matter where I travel in this country, I proudly wear Hall of Fame apparel,” Allison said. “In every community I visit, people immediately recognize the iconic logo and know exactly where it belongs: Canton, Ohio. That recognition is something I never take for granted. I am honored to be associated with an institution that has become synonymous with excellence. And the link to Stark County can never be separated.
“Working for the Hall is especially meaningful because I have the privilege of representing our community, my community, which has embraced and sustained the Hall for more than six decades.”
Would you share what your position at the Pro Football Hall of Fame entails and what some of your daily tasks include?
As the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s chief relationship officer, I oversee two major areas: Hall of Famer relations and the Hall’s partnership with the Black College Football Hall of Fame.
In leading Hall of Famer relations, I oversee the team responsible for establishing, strengthening, and growing relationships between the Hall and its enshrinees and their families. Ensuring that these legends of the game remain connected to the institution and continue to feel valued as members of the Hall family is a key part of our work.
I am also the first executive-level employee in charge of developing, expanding, and sustaining the Hall’s partnership with the Black College Football Hall of Fame, including the growth of the Black College Football Hall of Fame Museum and the annual Classic held over Labor Day weekend.
In addition, I help oversee the Hall’s Super Bowl activities and coordinate many of the internal efforts surrounding our annual Enshrinement events. Get your Hall of Fame Game tickets today! No two days are exactly alike, but each day provides an opportunity to preserve the legacy of the game, strengthen important relationships, and help create unforgettable experiences for our Hall of Famers and fans.
You have spent a large portion of your professional career in education. How did working in education prepare you for the career you are enjoying now?
Working in education prepared me for my current career in two critical ways. First, it taught me the importance of servant leadership.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame does not belong to me, just as the school system did not belong to me. In both settings, my responsibility has been to serve as a steward and help care for and strengthen the organization to ensure that it continues to grow and thrive for future generations. Leadership is not about ownership; it is about service.
Second, education reinforced for me that relationships matter. Throughout my career in education, I built relationships and partnerships with numerous individuals and organizations across our community. Many of those relationships continue to this day and remain valuable in my current role.
At the same time, my work at the Hall has allowed me to form new relationships that have enriched my life both professionally and personally. Ultimately, whether in education or at the Hall, success is built on trust, collaboration and meaningful relationships.
Which teams and players are your favorites?
When it comes to teams, I have two “must-watch” teams every football season: the Cleveland Browns and the Ohio State Buckeyes. I am old enough to remember and tell stories about the days when the Browns were good, so I still tune in every Sunday hoping those glory days will return. Being a Browns fan requires both loyalty and optimism, and I have plenty of both.
And, I love the Ohio State Buckeyes. As an Ohio native and former college football player, Saturdays in the fall are simply not complete without watching the Buckeyes.
As for players, I do not have a current favorite. One of the unique blessings of my role at the Pro Football Hall of Fame is that many of the players I grew up rooting for are now people I have the privilege of working with. In the interest of fairness, and self-preservation, I will refrain from naming names!
Who has been your mentor or mentors throughout your career?
At every stage of my career, I have been blessed to have mentors who invested in me, challenged me, and helped shape the person I am today. Although I had only a short time with him before his unexpected passing, former Superintendent Chris Smith shared pearls of wisdom that I still rely on today.
Dr. Adrienne O’Neill was also an important sounding board. When I began my career in Columbus, former Ohio Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Susan Tave Zelman took a special interest in my development. She pushed me hard to improve in nearly every aspect of leadership. Looking back, I realize her high expectations prepared me for opportunities I could not yet see for myself.
The mentor who had the greatest impact on my life was Paul Martin, former director of Canton’s Youth Development. Mr. Martin recognized leadership potential in me when I was still a pre-teen and intentionally placed me in leadership roles long before I thought I was ready. Some of those experiences were difficult, and there were times I failed. But Mr. Martin never stopped believing in me.
Even when I stumbled, he continued to see the leader I could become. To this day, I still carry his belief in me. His investment in my life reminds me of the importance of seeing potential in others and helping them discover it for themselves.
Do you have a skill or hobby that your coworkers might be surprised by?
Because of the close relationships many of us have at the Hall, most of my coworkers already know many of my “secret” skills and hobbies.
They know I make a pretty good macaroni and cheese, although I have yet to bring in any for them to taste. They know that I have a decent singing voice, which is why I am often recruited to lead the “Happy Birthday” song. They also know that I am a devoted fan of all iterations of “Star Trek” and that I am on a lifelong journey of Christian learning and growth.
What they may not know, however, is that my favorite hobby of all time is going to sleep. In my opinion, sleeping is one of life’s most underrated blessings.
Editor’s note: Five questions with … is a Sunday feature that showcases a member of the Stark County community. If you’d like to recommend someone to participate, send an email to newsroom@cantonrep.com.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Adrian Allison proud to represent Canton at Pro Football Hall of Fame
