Allan “Ted” Dean
Inducted into the Shell Rimula Wall of Fame at Reunion 2015.
Allan Gordon Dean known as 'Ted' was born on December 4, 1929, in Adelong in southern New South Wales. He is the grandchild of Charles Manton Dean who was father of CJ and Bert Dean who formed the Dean Brothers in the 1930's. The Dean Brothers separated in early 1953 and the transport company A & B Dean was formed.
Owned by Allan (Ted) and Bert (Ted's father), the younger brothers (Don, Billy and Colin) gradually became involved in the company. Ted was the managing director of A & B Dean the company through until 1992.
Ted Dean started driving cars and trucks at 11 and two years later he was driving on the local roads. Ted got his first licence, a semi trailer licence at 17 in 1946. His first truck was a three ton Chevrolet from a dealership based in Adelong.
After school Ted studied a mechanics course by correspondence while working with his father. He married Monica in January 1959. Two of the children, Tony and Steven, went into the transport industry.
When A & B Dean started they were carting super-phosphate, wool and wood with an International KS5 and KB6, an Austin, a Dodge and petrol Commers. At its height the business ran 12 semi-trailers.
A & B Dean were early adopters of double deck trailers from 1967. Longer trips were taken into Queensland running from Roma back to Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. The more regular trips were from local saleyards in Wagga and Cootamundra to Homebush, the only live weight marketing centre for many years.
After selling the stock transport part of the company to Lewington's of Wodonga in 1992, Ted continued to operate as an owner driver. He transported timber from Tumut to Brisbane or Newcastle with back loads of steel or bricks to Canberra and Wagga. Ted worked full time until he was 70 years old and continued to help out local drivers with smaller jobs until he handed in his semi trailer licence at the age of 80.
Ted has always loved dogs and enjoyed taking a small dog, Poofter, along as a companion.