Like most in his line of work, Jacksonville Urban League president Richard Danford rarely leaves anywhere without some kind of memento in tow.
“I do. It pretty much comes with the territory,” Danford said of his ever-growing collection of photos, plaques, thank you cards and certificates. “Unfortunately you can’t display all of them because every single one does carry its own unique memory.”
So how does he decide which ones make the cut and which go into a large box in the corner of his office?
“To get on the wall they have to very special,” he said. “Whether it’s the moment in time that’s special or the person who gave to me, every thing you see in my office carries a lot of significance.”
Danford’s corner office is located in the Urban League’s downtown headquarters on West Union Street, across the street from the Ritz Theatre. The door is usually open and Danford said every one is welcome to stop by.
Walls of photos
On opposite walls in his office hang framed photos of Danford with famous faces. Facing his desk are portraits of civic and business leaders including former Florida Gov. Lawton Chiles, civil rights leader Rosa Parks, Jaguar owner Wayne Weaver and Toyota distributor Jim Moran.
“These are people who have some wonderful contributions to the community and, in my opinion, have worked very hard toward the betterment of mankind,” he said. “I cherish having met each of them.”
Behind Danford hang celebrities of another kind: golfers.
“I started golfing when I was dating my wife (former TV-4 news anchor Joyce Morgan Danford) years ago,” Danford said. “Two weeks after my first time playing, I was completely hooked and today I look at it as one of the most rewarding things I’ve been able to do. I’ve had the opportunity to play with some very neat professional golfers including Curtis Strange and David Duval from the PGA Tour and Wendy Ward from the LPGA.”
Others include Scott Hoch, David Toms and Roger Maltbie.
“On the green I’ve been able to accomplish a lot for, not only myself, but the Urban League, too,” he said. “It may be hard to believe but we’ve benefited tremendously from what’s gone on while I’ve been golfing.”
Family
Resting square on Danford’s desk is a frame that houses two photos. One is of Danford with wife and three children.
“I’ve been very lucky to have had two wonderful wives,” Danford said. “I lost my first wife in 1988 and I’ve been married to Joyce for 12 years. I couldn’t have asked for two better women in the world.”
The other photo in the split frame is of U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown with Danford’s two younger children.
“(Brown) is their godmother,” Danford said, “and she’s wonderful to them.”
Danford said the outspoken Representative can always be counted to bring her “godbabies” souvenirs from around the world.
“Oh yeah, they love it,” he said. “She’s been to so many wonderful places around the world from Russia to parts of Europe, and she always keeps them in mind.”
Vietnam
In 1968, Danford was stationed in Vietnam. Enlisted in the Army’s 23rd Military Police Company, he calls the experience one of the most memorable of his life.
“I landed there on Christmas day in 1967,” he said, “and I left on Dec. 28 in 1968.”
The war changed him, he said, but Danford maintains it was something else that happened while there that he will never forget.
“What’s most significant about my time there is that that’s where I heard that Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed,” he said. “When the news hit, our company commander called in each of the black soldiers and told us separately. I couldn’t believe it. Here we were fighting for the freedom of another country when we weren’t even free at home.”
March on Washington
Taken by Danford in 1993, this photo commemorates the 30th anniversary of the March on Washington.
“That was amazing,” he said. “I can still remember being there when I took this. I was standing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial looking at the thousands of people ahead of me. I had some black and white film and when I had it developed I had the photo blown up and copied five times. I had each of them framed.”
Danford then gave the mementos to friends.
“What’s significant about that is that each person I gave one to, in turn, made a sizable contribution that ultimately helped pay for our building here,” he said.
Jaguar Helmet
A self-described “huge supporter,” Danford said he has enjoyed watching the Jaguars from the very beginning.
“They’ve made one of the most significant contributions to Jacksonville I can think of,” Danford said of the team. “Not only in athletics, but also to our political, social and economical well being. Obviously, without them we would have never gotten the Super Bowl.”
Danford refers to the the Jaguars as the “domino effect that’s moving the community forward.”