WCC alumnus named park superintendent
Wayne Community College alumnus Allen Williford has been named the new superintendent of Medoc Mountain State Park in Halifax County.
HOLLISTER — Wayne Community College alumnus Allen Williford has been named superintendent of Medoc Mountain State Park in Halifax County, according to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation.
A state park superintendent manages the operations and administration of a park and has wide-ranging responsibilities including staffing, planning, environmental education, natural resources management, law enforcement and visitor services. Williford succeeds Kelley King, who retired last spring.
Williford began his career in textiles and moved into industrial engineering. Having studied criminal justice at Wayne Community College and still interested in law enforcement, he decided to leave engineering to complete Basic Law Enforcement Training. Williford then joined the Emerald Isle Police Department before serving as a fisheries officer for the N.C. Marine Fisheries Service and finally joining N.C. State Parks as a ranger at Kerr Lake State Recreation Area, where he served until recently.
Williford grew up near Goldsboro and studied at both Wayne Community College and South Georgia College. He looks forward to leading Medoc Mountain State Park. “I will work to support the high standard that Medoc Mountain currently maintains,” he said.
As Halifax County pursues more opportunities for recreation and health for its residents, North District superintendent Kristen Woodruff looks forward to Williford’s leadership to improve connections between the state park and the community’s initiatives. “Allen’s career has demonstrated that he is an outstanding leader and park ranger. I look forward to the new energy he will bring to Medoc Mountain and surrounding communities,” she said.
Located in Halifax County 30 miles northwest of Rocky Mount, Medoc Mountain State Park stands on the 325-foot remnant of a once-mighty mountain range. The park offers picnicking in an open meadow, fishing on Little Fishing Creek, and traversing the undulating trails on foot, bike or horse. Uncommon species such as Lewis’ heartleaf and the Neuse River waterdog call the park home.
— From Wayne Community College Public Information
