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Allen organized the first approved American training school for Black x-ray technologists at St. Mary's Infirmary, St. Louis in 1933.

With Pensacola roots going back two generations, Dr. William E. Allen was born on North "A" Street in 1903. This Washington High School graduate received his B.S. and M.D. degrees from Howard University.

He was the first Black to be certified in radiology by the American Board of Radiology in 1935. Dr. Allen was the first Black Fellow elected by the American College of Radiology, created the first residency for the School of Radiologic Technology at Homer G. Phillips Hospital, was the first Black officer from the city of St. Louis to enlist in the U.S. Army, the first certified Black radiologist in military service, one of the first two Blacks to be appointed as a consultant to the Secretary of War. In 1974, he was responsible for the first cobalt treatment unit to be introduced in Western Africa, and was the first Black to receive the American College of Radiology's highest honor, the Gold Medal. Dr. William E. Allen retired from the teaching staff at both St. Louis and Washington Universities. He died in St. Louis in December, 1981.