Allan M. West was born Oct. 16, 1910 in Portland, Oregon, the son of Ray and Mary Morrell West. He graduated from Logan High School, Logan, Utah and in 1932 received his B.A. degree from the Utah State Agricultural College (now Utah State University). He later completed graduate work in school administration at Utah State Agricultural College, the University of Utah, and the University of Chicago. On Dec. 2, 1932 he married Ferne Page, and they later had two sons: A. West and Johnathon P. West.

Allan M. West was Director of Research for the Utah Education Association from 1942-46. In 1946 he was made Executive Secretary of the same organization and served in that position for 16 years. He was also the editor of the Utah Educational Review from 1943 to 1961. West joined the staff of the National Education Association in 1961 as the Associate Director of the Membership Division. He assumed several different offices in the following years, including Associate, Deputy, and Acting Executive Secretary of the Association. West was affiliated with UEA and the American Association of School Administrations as well as being a life member of the National Education Association. Mr. West was an early proponent of formal negotiation rights for teachers and authored many articles and publications on the subject. He was also involved in the merger of racially separate affiliates of the NEA in the South.