Eugene Allen ( July 14 , 1919 -- March 31 , 2010 ) was a waiter and butler who worked for the White House for 34 years until he retired as the head butler in 1986 .
Eugene Allen ( July 14 , 1919 -- March 31 , 2010 ) was an American waiter and butler . He worked for the White House for 34 years until he retired in 1986 .