Warner Alford dedicated over half of his life to the University of Mississippi. From his playing and coaching days on the football field to his administrative duties, Alford served his alma mater in many capacities, including 16 years as director of athletics.
Alford earned three letters as a guard on standout Rebel football teams from 1958 to 1960. He was co-captain of the 1960 undefeated national champion team and served as athletics director for Ole Miss from 1978 to 1994.
During his years as athletics director, he helped expand athletic opportunities for both men and women at the university, increasing varsity sports from eight to 15. Vaught-Hemingway Stadium received a major facelift under his leadership, which included a new press box, 29 skyboxes and the addition of a lighting system, bringing night football to the Oxford campus. Other major facility additions included construction of a new baseball stadium and tennis center.
He later returned to Ole Miss and held positions as executive assistant for development for the UM Foundation, coordinator for external programs for the Trent Lott Leadership Institute and worked with the Ole Miss First scholars program.
He served as executive director of the Ole Miss Alumni Association from 2004 to 2008, overseeing significant growth in the club program and the addition of the tower to The Inn at Ole Miss.
Alford was inducted into the M-Club Alumni Hall of Fame in 1999, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 2003 and the University of Mississippi Alumni Hall of Fame in 2009.
A native of McComb, Alford is married to the former Kay Swayze of Oxford. They have three children, Thomas Swayze Alford, John Warner Alford III and Phyllis Alford Daniels, and seven grandchildren.