RIP Paul Allen

Oct 1  Paul Allen announced his Lymphoma had returned. It was worse than he let on.

He died today. The  Microsoft founder, Blazer and Seahawks owner, philanthropist and space pioneer left a hell of a legacy.

I'm pretty much in shock due to the timing. I cannot imagine the Trail Blazers without Paul Allen.

Quite a few of my military compatriots have been employed by Paul Allen in his many science and technology endeavors, and knew him to be a true team player who not only showed great respect for his employees, but always implored them to think big and outside the box in his quest to better mankind.

Not a follower of professional sports, I really never thought about his basketball and football franchises, but knew he was a great philanthropist who donated more than $2 billion to nonprofit groups dedicated to the advancement of science, technology, education, the environment and the arts….including his donation of $100 million to stop the spread of the Ebola virus when it was at its worst four years ago.

In addition to the Seahawks and Blazers, Allen also was a minority owner of the Sounders.