The following is from a newspaper article in The Cisco Press dated Thursday, September 1, 1960.

David Alford Returns To City After Summer Visit In Greece

David Alford, the grandson of the Raby Millers, described his first trip to Greece as "an interesting experience". He spent the past summer there with his parents, Col. and Mrs. D.G. Alford. Col. Alford is
commander of the Air Force 7206th Support Group, and the family, which includes another son and daughter, live in Glyfada, a suburb of Athens.
David left Athens by plane Friday morning and arrived in New York Saturday afternoon. He left there about 1 A.M. Sunday for Dallas Love Field, came from there by bus to Cisco, and reached here in time to surprise his grandmother as she arrived from church. She had not expected him to leave Europe until Monday.
Swimming was his chief recreation during the summer, as his home was just two blocks from the beach. The days, he reported, were hot and clear - it rained only once
while he was there; but the nights were usually cool.
Among the interesting sights were the Acropolis, the Parthenon, and the ruins of a Jewish temple, Sounion, which is on a hill some 65 kilometers from Athens. He also attended the Sound and Light Show, which is presented each evening in three languages - English, Greek and French - and is an hour-long re-enactment of ancient days in Athens. It is presented on a hill near the city and makes use of spotlights and a narrator reading the history of the area.
David found that most people he met could speak English. Many of them were able to speak several languages. He took lessons in Greek and French from a native of Greece who was also a civilian employee in the
motor pool on the Air Force Base. The tutor was also able to speak English, Egyptian, and Italian fluently and a small amount of the German and Arab languages.
At one time during the summer he went to the island of Edra, off the coast, and swam in the harbor where the movie, "Boy on a Dolphin", was filmed. He was impressed with the underwater caves there. He was also in Germany and Scotland for a short while on the trip back to the United States. The Alfords' home is a short distance from a small fenced area marking the place where Paul landed when he arrived to preach to the Corinthians.
Col. Alford and his family are to remain in Greece for two more years, during which time they will have a leave which will probably be used seeing other parts of Europe. Mike, age 13, and Patty, 9, attend Ursaline School, Roman Catholic sponsored, which is one of the few accredited schools in the area. The curriculum is mainly the same as the schools in the U.S., with more emphasis on the learning of foreign languages. The high schools there are not accredited and a student who returns to the U.S. must take several additional examinations to enter a college here. However, most high school graduates there are able to speak French fluently.
David, who will leave next week for North Texas State College in Denton, is a sophomore pre-dental student. He is a graduate of Cisco High School.


From a newspaper article in The Cisco Press dated Sunday, September 11, 1960.

David Alford Loses His Life In Accident Friday Afternoon

David Gatson Alford, 19, 1959 graduate of Cisco High School lost his life by electrocution Friday afternoon while working with a crew in assembling a grain storage tank at Thornton Feed Mill. He was the son of Col. and Mrs. D.G. Alford of Athens, Greece.
Funeral services were awaiting the arrival of the youth's family from Greece, where Col. Alford, an Air Force career officer, is commander of the 7206th Support Group. Contacted by telephone Friday night, the
Alford's said they would fly home immediately. It was understood that they would arrive by jet airliner in Dallas at 10:30 A.M. Sunday.
Young Alford returned to Cisco on Aug. 27 after spending the summer with his parents in Greece. He went to work for Paul Schobe, a Gainesville contractor, who had been employed by the John Wilson Company of Gainesville to a erect 16,000 bushel grain storage tank at the mill here.
Working with David were two of his friends, Johnny Carson and Roger (Skip) Parker. David was inside the metal tank operating a electric wrench to put nuts on bolts holding the tank sections together. Witnesses said he had his left arm against the steel and was pushing the wrench with his right hand. It was believed that a short in the
electric wiring caused the 110-volt current to hit him. Johnny Carson saw David fall and ran to him.
He received a shock when he touched David, so he pulled the electric cord loose. Artificial respiration was started immediately by Johnny. When a Wylie ambulance arrived, Parker kept up the respiration efforts en route to Graham Hospital. These efforts were continued at the hospital for some time before David was pronounced dead.
David was born June 26, 1941, in Fort Worth. He had lived in Cisco during his senior year of high school, residing with his grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. Raby Miller. He attended Texas A&M college and North Texas State College last year, and planned to return to Denton this weekend to enroll for his second year. He was a pre-dental student.
Col. and Mrs. Alford are well known here. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Alford, reside at Rising Star, and Mrs. Alford grew up in Cisco. Davis was popular among the young people. He was member of the First Christian Church here.
Besides his parents and grandparents, David is survived by a brother, Mike, 13, and a sister, Patty, 9.
The body was at Wylie Funeral Home.

From a newspaper article in The Cisco Press dated Tuesday, September 13, 1960

Final Rites For David G. Alford Slated Wednesday

Final Rites for David Gaston Alford, 19-year old Ciscoan who lost his life in an accident here last Friday afternoon, will be conducted at 3 P.M. Wednesday at the First Christian Church. The Rev. Alman Martin, pastor, and the Rev. Richard Crews of Pampa, formerly a local pastor, will be in charge of the services.
Burial will follow in the Oakwood Cemetery with Wylie Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Active pallbearers were named as follows: Johnny Trigg, Phillip Surles, Rex
Townsend, Buddy Water, Bob Dolgener, and Johnny Bob Richardson, all of Cisco and Jay Garrett, Jr., of Ballinger and Billy Sheely of Commerce.
David was the son of Col. and Mrs. D.G. Alford of Athens, Greece, and he returned only two weeks ago after spending the summer months there. Mrs. Alford arrived by plane from Europe Sunday, and Col. Alford, who is commanding officer of the 7206th Air Force Support Group in Greece, arrived by plane Monday night.
David, who had planned to leave last weekend to resume his pre-dental studies at NTSC, was employed by Paul Schobe, a Gainesville contractor, to help erect a new grain storage tank at the Thornton Feed Mill. Working with an electric wrench, he was electrocuted.
Roger (Skip) Parker and Johnny Carson, two youthful companions who were working with David, gave the stricken youth artificial respiration in an effort to restore life.
David was born June 26, 1941, in Fort Worth. He graduated from high school here in 1959 and attended Texas A&M College and North Texas State College last year. He was a member of the First Christian Church here and
was popular among the young people.
Surviving David, besides his parents, are a brother, Mike, 13, and a sister, Patty, 9. His grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. Raby Miller of Cisco and Mr. and Mrs. Carl Alford of Rising Star, also survive.
Named as honorary pallbearers were Wayne Brown, Bill Solomon, Herman Wilson, Charles Lavery, Fred Howell, Johnny Carson, Don Doyle, Homer Smith, Weaver Callaway, Robert Bostick, Joe Johnson, David Carrothers, Jerry Don Anderson, Jerry Stephens, all of Cisco; Tommy Dorsett, Dallas; Jim Parker, San Antonio; Jackie Fuller, San Francisco; and Otho Kean, J.D. Lauderdale, Leon Cagle, Harold Adling, Jim Flournoy, George Estill, J.C. Fletcher, Don Reynolds, Carl Lamb, James Cotton and Ken Keltner, all of Cisco.

This is from a newspaper article in The Cisco Press dated Thursday, September 15, 1960.

Final Tribute Is Paid Local Youth In Funeral Rites

Final tribute was paid to David Gaston Alford, 19, in services Wednesday at 3 P.M. at the First Christian Church. The popular youth lost his life in a mishap last Friday.
An unusually large crowd attended the services. City schools dismissed classes an hour early in respect to the young man, who was graduated at Cisco High in 1959. Service were directed by the Rev. Almon Martin, pastor, assisted by the Rev. Richard Crews of Pampa, former local
minister. Special music was provided by Stanley Webb who sang "Always" and "The Lord's Prayer", accompanied by Mrs. Webb. Organ music was played by Mrs. Troy Powell.
Burial followed in the Oakwood Cemetery with Wylie Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Pallbearers were Johnny Trigg, Phillip Surles, Rex Townsend, Buddy Waters, Bob Dolgener and Johnny Bob Richardson, all of Cisco, and Jay Garrett, Jr., of Ballinger and Billy Sheely of Commerce.
David was the son of Col. and Mrs. D.G. Alford, who live in Athens, Greece, where he commands an Air Force Group. He was the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Raby Miller of Cisco and Mr. and Mrs. Carl Alford of Rising Star. Other
survivors include a brother, Mike, and a sister, Patty.
A member of the local church, David was born June 26, 1941, in Fort Worth. He had planned to return this week to Denton to resume his pre-dental studies at North Texas State College.
Named as honorary pallbearers were Roger (Skip) Parker, Wayne Brown, Bill Solomon, Herman Wilson, Charles Lavery, Fred Howell, Johnny Carson, Don Doyle, Homer Smith, Weaver Callaway, Robert Bostick, Joe Johnson,
David Carrothers, Jerry Don Anderson, Jerry Stephens, Otho Kean, J.D. Lauderdale, Leo Cagle, Harold Adling, Jim Flournoy, George Estill, J.C. Fletcher, Don Reynolds, Carl Lamb, James Cotton, and Ken Keltner, all of Cisco; Tommy Dorsett, Dallas; Jim Parker, San Antonio; Jackie Fuller, San Francisco.

The following is from an article in The Rising Star Record dated September 15, 1960.

Cisco Tragedy Take Life of Grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Alford Here

Funeral services for David Gaston Alford, 19-year-old grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Alford of Rising Star and son of Col. and Mrs. D.G. Alford of Athens, Greece, were to be held at Cisco at 3 P.M. Wednesday of this week at the First Christian Church in that city.
Burial was to be in Oakwood cemetery, Cisco. Officiating ministers were to be the Rev. Almon Maron, pastor of the church, and the Rev. Richard Crews of the Pampa First Christian Church.
Young Alford died in a tragic accident only a few days before he was to leave to enroll at North Texas State College in Denton. He was shocked fatally while using an electric wrench inside a 16,000-bushel grain storage tank under construction at a Cisco feed mill. He had spent the
summer with his parents in Greece, where his father is commander of Air Force Support Group 7206 USAF, and had just returned to Cisco. He took a job Tuesday preceding accident with Paul Schobe, of Gainesville, a welding contractor on the job.
An apparent short in the electric tool was blamed for the accident. Two young fellow workers, Johnny Carson, and Roger Parker, Jr., administered artificial respiration but were unsuccessful in the attempt to revive the youth. He was dead on arrival at Graham hospital.
Young Alford was born in Fort Worth and was a 1959 graduate of Cisco High School. He was a pre-dental student at NTSC.
Survivors include his parents, Col. and Mrs. Alford; a brother, Mike, 13; a sister, Patty, nine; his paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Alford of this city, and his maternal granparents, Mr. and Mrs. Raby Miller of Cisco.

The following is from a newspaper article dated Tuesday, September 20,
1960.

Here For Alford Funeral Services

Out-of-town friends and relative attending the funeral of David Alford were as follows: Mrs. H.G. Clifton, Mrs. Gilbert Dorsett, Mrs. M.H. Dohoney, Mrs.
L.D. Smith, and Mr. and Mrs. Roy Carter, all of Dallas.
Mrs. Forest Sheely, Mrs. Lowell Leberman, Mrs. Lee Atkins, Bill Sheely, Miss Helen Alexander, Miss Jean Clifton, and Miss Kay Chifton, of Commerce.
Miss Jean Wilburn of Richardson, Mr. and Mrs. W.B. Hunter, and Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Hunter of Midland.
Mrs. O.J. Norwood of Sundown, Mr. and Mrs. Gernade Hunter of Austin, Mr. and Mrs. George Van Horn of Odessa, and Dr. and Mrs. J.W. Bettis of Wills Point.
From Abilene, Miss Eudora Hawkins, Mr. and Mrs. James Shelton, Mr. and Mrs. I.V. Daniels, Mr. and Mrs. David Adams and Dana, and Captain and Mrs. Bill Tarter.
David Carothers of Eastland, Mrs. and Mrs. W.C. Hodges of Roby, Mr. and Mrs. Jay Garrett and Mr. and Mrs. Jay Garrett, Jr., of Ballinger, Mrs. G.R. Whitney of Breckenridge, Mr. and Mrs. Larry McNeight of Seattle,
Washington, Jake Fuller of San Francisco, California, and David Raymond of Moran.
Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Watkins, Mrs. O.E. Wilkerson, Mrs. Veda Switzer Arnold of Rising Star.
David's grandfather, Carl Alford of Rising Star, his great-aunt, Mrs. N.E. Springer, of Abilene, and two aunts and their families, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Watkins and Julie of Rising Star, and Mr. and Mrs. John Yancy of Tyler also attended the funeral, along with many relatives and friends from Rising Star who did not register.
Mrs. Alvin Agnell and Merle Thornton of Abilene; Bill J. Joyce of Coleman; Nell Gray Thomas, Odessa; Miss Alta Craig, and Mr. and Mrs. John A. Thomason of Brownwood; and Mrs. Bill Gray and Gene Gray of Albany.