John W. Alford
John W. Alford was born in Baltimore, Ohio on October 21, 1912. He attended DePauw University and attained employment at Park National Bank in 1935. He was a World War II veteran and "active in the Newark Area Chamber of Commerce, Licking Memorial Hospital, the Boy Scouts, United Way, Salvation Army, Par Excellence Learning Center and other groups." John and his wife had two children: Ronald B. Alford and Barbara (Alford) Cantlin.
Alford was named the Director of Park National Bank in December of 1952, after 17 years with the financial institution. He went on to be elected to Vice President of Park National Bank (1946), Director (1952), President (1956), Chief Executive Officer (1960) and Chairman of the Board (1979). He was also named the Director of the Federal Reserve Bank in Cleveland in 1977.
Not only was Mr. Alford a prominent business man, but his kindness, generosity, and philanthropic efforts continue to make a difference in the lives of Licking County residents more than twenty years after his death. During his life, he was active in many local organizations, including: director and treasurer for the United Way of Licking County; member of the citizens' advisory committee for the Board of Education for Newark Public Schools; helped raise over $80,000 for the Food Pantry of Licking County in 1983; trustee of the Licking County Foundation for Public Giving; honorary trustee of the Dawes Arboretum; life trustee of Denison University; and held leadership roles in Boy Scouts, Denison University Research Foundation and The Ohio State University- Newark Campus.
Mr. Alford was a beacon of the Licking County community during his life, and his legacy pays tribute to his kindness and passion for the people of Licking County. In October of 1985, to celebrate his 50 years of service to Park National Bank, the financial institution published announcement in The Granville Sentinel. The one-page statement praised Alford, stating "His professional and civic achievements are lofty, numerous and meaningful.... John Alford is a truly great man".
A small list of his lasting generosity includes:
- John and Mary Alford Foundation – Created by John and Mary's son & daughter to carry on the charitable and philanthropic giving activities of John and Mary Alford, with an emphasis on improving and enhancing the quality of life primarily in the Licking County Community through the support of educational, social, religious and cultural programs".
- John W. Alford Extraordinary Lifetime Achievement Award - This "award is in recognition of an individual's unselfish contribution of time, talent and resources to the community."
- John W. Alford Scholarship - Recipients are students at The Ohio State University-Newark Campus and is "awarded to student with a minimum GPA of 3.0 who are single parents and residents of Licking County with demonstrated financial need."
- Alford's $500,000 donation to the James, in honor of his wife Mary, created the first research endowment the hospital received since the hospital's opening in July of 1990. In June of 2011, Ron Alford and Barb Cantlin (John and Mary's children), pledged an additional $500,000 to the James to establish the Mary E. and John W. Alford Cancer Research Endowment Fund.
- John Alford Community Service Award
- Alford Community Leadership & Involvement Center at Denison University
John Alford died on May 27, 1996 at the home of his daughter following six months of failing health.
