For Immediate Release
GALLATIN, TN—David Williford recently informed President Matt Pinson of his desire to retire from his long-standing role as Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Welch College.
“David Williford has been one of the longest-standing leaders in the history of Welch College, and it’s going to be hard to see him go,” Pinson said, commenting on Williford’s two-decade tenure in the post. “Not only has Mr. Williford been a top advocate for Welch, but he’s also built bridges for the college across its alumni, denominational, and donor constituencies and served as a pace-setter in fundraising and denominational relations.”
Williford was Pinson’s first major hire in early 2002 after being named Welch’s president-elect in late 2001. “I went and heard David preach at First Free Will Baptist Church in Chipley, Florida, my last Sunday before moving to Nashville. He had been serving as part-time promotional director for the Florida State Association of Free Will Baptists. I knew right then he had to be at Welch.”
A native of Slocomb, Alabama, Williford married his wife Donna in 1973, and they came to Welch for David to enroll as a student in 1976. The Willifords have two grown children, Michael and Stephanie, both of whom are Welch alumni. Williford established himself as an effective pastor of Free Will Baptist churches in Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Florida before being named promotional director for Florida Free Will Baptists in 2000. He served two terms as a member of the Free Will Baptist International Missions Board.
In addition to representing Welch across diverse constituencies, Williford oversaw the most productive era of fundraising in Welch’s history, with more than $12 million having been raised thus far toward the ongoing Building on the Legacy campaign for Welch’s recently constructed campus in Gallatin, Tennessee.
“David Williford has been not only a loyal and effective chief advancement officer for the college but also a trusted friend and advisor to me,” Pinson said. “Our plans are to keep him tied in part-time as fundraiser and Welch ambassador as he moves into retirement from his vice president role.” Williford will continue until this June, when he will have served twenty years in the position.