Mr. Bob Williford Sr.

City Commissioner Bob Williford is seeking election to a full term in office Nov. 6.Williford is a sales associate with Granville Furniture Co. and was a longtime manager of catering operations for Pan American Airways.

OXFORD -- A crossroads vendor who has alleged a slow response by Oxford police to a Sunday shoplift­ing was blasted Friday by City Commissioner Bob Williford.

OXFORD -- A crossroads vendor who has alleged a slow response by Oxford police to a Sunday shoplift­ing was blasted Friday by City Commissioner Bob Williford.Williford, usually low-key at municipal government meetings, accused J.B.Murray of leaving "a filthy message" on a telephone answering machine after the incident.The problem, Williford argued to Murray, is that, "It didn't come to my house.It came to my cousin's house - Buster - who you rent your property from."You made a drastic mistake there, young man," Williford argued."You don't call someone's home and use foul language."Murray, as he did at Tuesday evening's full commission meeting, appeared Friday morning before the commis­sion's public safety committee to publicly air his grievances.During the committee meeting, Williford particu­larly took issue with the voice message given that Murray is alleging that the officer used swear words.Murray countered that he left the message on the answering machine in an attempt to relay what the of­ficer allegedly had told him.Williford told Murray that all he had to do was say he wanted a meeting about the incident and that, "You're going to thank God my wife didn't pick up that phone."And Williford additionally told Murray that, "You called the wrong house, buddy."Murray countered that he spoke with Williford's cousin "and we got that matter straightened out, thank you.""No, no, you didn't get it straightened out," Williford argued."It was upsetting, the way the police officer done me," Murray countered."Well, there you go, everyone makes mistakes," Williford maintained.

The new wastewater treatment plant officially came online on Monday, September 11 when Mayor Al Woodlief, Public Works Committee Chairman Paul Kiesow & Commissioners Bob Shope, Bob Williford, Quon Bridges and Chance Wilkinson turned the valve to mark this historical moment in Oxford.

Cawley and Williford join Sherby Slaughter in wanting to complete the remaining two years of Yancey's four-year term.
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Williford, 65, has worked the last two decades in the business district, first selling clothing and now furniture.

Williford said when Yancey stepped down, he thought, "My God, maybe I should join up."

"Maybe they could use my knowledge of being on Main Street for 20 years, what the man downtown needs," he said."So I threw my hat in the ring."

Williford returned to Oxford, the city of his birth, after working for Pan American World Airways from 1959 to 1985.

He managed catering operations for the former aviation giant.

Williford, like Cawley, also said he is eyeing the sprawl.

"It's moving fast, it is.You go out Old (Route) 75 and there's houses galore," he said.

At the same time, he said he wants to preserve what he sees as a pleasant place to do business.

And he said, "We need to generate more."

Bob Williford Sr.heraldsun.com: Vacated Oxford position filled
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OXFORD -- Bob Williford Sr. on Monday night was named to the Oxford City Commission in a vote that was split along racial lines.

Mayor Al Woodlief cast the tie-breaking vote that gave Williford the nod over Juanita Rogers.
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Williford fills a position vacated by the December resignation of Clement Yancey and will serve the remaining two years of Yancey's four-year term at more than $5,500 annually.
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Williford, Woodlief and supporting commissioners Paul Kiesow, Bob Shope and Chance Wilkinson are white.
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"He was down to earth," Shope recalled of Williford.
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Williford is the new commissioner and we need to work together with him and try to move forward for the city."

Williford is currently a sales associate with Granville Furniture Co. who had worked as a longtime manager of catering operations for Pan American Airways.
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As for his emotions, Williford, 65, said, "Well, I'm elated.I'm very happy that they put that much trust in me."

Wilkinson afterward said he believed Williford to be an appropriate selection because Williford and Yancey both are downtown businessmen.

Williford and Rogers emerged as the top two candidates Monday night after Woodlief and the commission narrowed the list of candidates from four in the same paper ballot process used late last month.
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Wilkinson on Monday night did immediately nominate Williford and unsuccessfully called for open voting.
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When the commission split between the two finalists, Woodlief said, "For the best interests of the city of Oxford, I will have to cast my vote for Mr. Williford," and gaveled the meeting to a close.