RICHARD O. ALFORD

The following bio was taken from page 91 of the book entitled "Rusk County History" compiled and edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

Transcribed by Shirley Koym

Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Rusk County TX Coordinator

E. B. Alford, Sr. and Ella Overton Alford’s youngest child is Richard Overton Alford, affectionately known as Dick.

Dick was educated in the Henderson schools and in Texas A & M and Metropolitan Business College of Dallas. He married Charlin B. Cox of Boonesville, Mississippi. She was graduated in music and later attended Metropolitan Business College. Like his brothers, Dick was a partner in Paris and Detroit, living in each place for a time. He was connected with a local insurance agency before turning to the automobile business. He has been a livestock raiser and booster of agriculture just as the other members of the family have been.

The Dick Alfords have two daughters, Jo Ann and Louella Beatrice. Jo Ann married William Miller Banister after attending S. M. U., where she was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma. Both Jo Ann and W. M. graduated there. The Banisters have three children: Bess Ella, Kara and William M., Jr. W. M. is associated with Lincoln Properties of Dallas, which is owned by Trammel Crow.

Louella Alford married Don G. Wilks of Dallas. Louella graduated from S. M. U., where she was a Zeta Tau Alpha member. Her husband also graduated from S. M. U. The Wilks have two children, Emily Ann and Douglas Alford. Don Wilks is associated with Wilks Independent Insurance Agency.

Dick Alford maintains an office at Alford Investments in Henderson where, as he says, "It is a place to hang out since I retired." He loves to talk about his father and brothers and the old times of Henderson. On his brother, John R., Dick tells a story that will bring smiles to the faces of those who knew Mr. John Alford. John had a throat operation in his middle life and thereafter was unable to speak above a whisper. John often went out in the early evening to collect debts. He went up on the porch of a frame house in the outskirts of Henderson. John, after knocking on the door and its being opened by the lady of the house, said in his hoarse whisper, "Is your husband home?" Quick as a flash, the woman replied in a whisper also, "No, Come on in."

Mr. And Mrs. Dick Alford have been a part of the Alford team, supporting their church and their community and adding to the betterment of Henderson and Rusk County.

Submitted by Virginia Knapp