Op-Ed: Colin Allred Discusses Lowering Costs With Local Leaders, Small Businesses During Rio Grande Valley Visit

About Colin Allred: Colin Allred was born in Dallas where he was raised by a single mom on a teacher’s salary. Allred was a standout student-athlete before playing football at Baylor University, where he became Captain of the football team. After college, he deferred his acceptance to law school to play in the NFL where he was a linebacker for five seasons. After a career-ending injury, Allred went on to law school and became a civil rights attorney.

After serving in President Obama’s Administration at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Allred was elected to Congress in the district where he was raised, unseating an 11-year incumbent in an R+5 district. In Congress he led the effort to open a new VA hospital in Garland and two other VA facilities in Dallas and El Paso. Allred served three terms, during which he was repeatedly recognized as the most bipartisan member of the Texas delegation.

Colin and his wife, Alexandra, live in Dallas where they are raising their two young children.