Borst, Allen T.

Allen T. Borst, born in Centralia, Lewis County, Washington, on January 21, 1873, was the youngest living child of pioneering parents Joseph Borst and Mary Adeline Roundtree. After graduating with honors from Washington College in Irvington, California, he farmed in Washington before relocating to Centerville, Alameda County, California, in June 1897 to continue general farming and fruit raising. His career transitioned into industry in 1904 when he became the private secretary to prominent oil man and iron manufacturer John A. Bunting. This role eventually led him to permanently settle in Coalinga, California, in June 1907, where he served as assistant manager of the Bunting Iron Works and later took charge of the Shawmut Oil Company. Following Bunting death on May 1, 1916, Borst became an executor of the estate and took over as the general manager of the Bunting Iron Works.

Beyond his industrial career, Borst emerged as a deeply influential civic leader in Coalinga through his extensive involvement in local governance and education. He served on the school board in every district he lived in, eventually becoming the president of the boards for both the Coalinga Union High School and the Coalinga Public Library. Under his leadership, the town completed a modern ninety thousand dollar high school building and a new public library, and he was elected to the board of town trustees in April 1918. He was also a prominent figure in local finance, serving as an organizer, stockholder, and director for local banking institutions, including the consolidated First National Bank of Coalinga. Married to Elizabeth Overacker, with whom he had two children named Deborah and Joseph, Borst dedicated his life to enhancing the growth, commerce, and educational welfare of his community.