Obituary:
Romeo James Alford, Jr. was born on August 25, 1958 to proud parents Louise Swain Alford and the
late Romeo James Alford, Sr. in Okemah, Oklahoma. As a child Romeo was a sports enthusiast, playing both football and baseball. He began his formal education at the IXL school before attending Dunbar Elementary and Carver Junior High School. He graduated from Sapulpa High School in 1975. Following the footsteps of many of his family members, Romeo continued his education at Langston University on an athletic scholarship where he received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Chemistry. While at Langston, Romeo was very active on campus. In 1976, he continued the legacy of his father by pledging the Beta Kappa Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. It was at Langston where Romeo met his future wife, Brenda Nails. They married in 1991 and shared one daughter, Jordan. Romeo continued to support his ‘Dear Langston’ throughout his life and attended many homecoming celebrations where he enjoyed reminiscing about his college days with friends and family.
After finishing LU, Romeo began his expansive career in the Tulsa Public School system by teaching physical science at McLain High School. Finding a passion in teaching and guiding youth, he went on to receive a Master of Science in School Administration from Northeastern State University. During his nearly 40 years in Tulsa Public Schools, he held the positions of teacher, counselor, dean, assistant principal, and most recently principal of TRAICE Academy. Also, he spent many years supporting his alma mater Langston as an adjunct faculty member teaching subjects such as Statistics, where Jordan often found herself in the back of the classroom. On Friday nights he could be found in the McLain High School football stands and later at the Booker T. Washington High School football games to interact from the stands with his daughter on the sidelines. Romeo was dedicated to his work in education and found much joy in the generations of Tulsa students he impacted during his tenure.
One of Romeo’s most treasured accomplishments is the development of the Clearview Rodeo. The Clearview Rodeo was founded and built by his father, the late Romeo J. Alford, Sr. in 1981. Romeo, Sr. had the dream of creating a space where family and friends of Clearview could come back to the homeplace, and the Clearview Rodeo was born. Romeo, Jr. took this mission to heart and continued to produce and grow the Clearview Rodeo until his passing. Through the rodeo, he made many friends throughout the Clearview area, including the many businesses that supported the rodeo souvenir book. Both Romeo, Jr. and Romeo, Sr. made it a mission to make participation in the rodeo accessible to all. Because of Romeo’s tireless efforts, the rodeo became an international phenomenon that welcomed visitors from all of the country and from as far away as Europe. Romeo loved Clearview, the roundup club, and his cowboy family.
Romeo was a very devoted member of the Alford family. He showed unwavering love and support to his daughter, wife, and mother. He relished in large family gatherings, such as the Alford Family Reunion, and had an unparalleled devotion to all of his family. He was often known to share family stories at these events while making new memories.
Romeo is preceded in death by his father, Romeo J. Alford, Sr. To cherish his bountiful memory are his mother, Louise S. Alford; wife, Brenda Nails-Alford; daughter, Jordan Louise Alford; brother, Kenneth L. Alford; sisters-in-law, Beverly Kelley and Clarinda Earl; aunt, Violet Alford Patterson; nephews, Marquiz Alford (Sheryka), Sterling Alford (Melissa), and Quinton Kelley; niece, Yana Earl, and a host of cousins and friends.
Romeo J. Alford, Jr. is the son of the late Romeo J. Alford, Sr. & Louise Swain Alford; grandson of Wesley Dow Alford & Emily Dunlap Alford; and G/Grandson of Matthew Solomon Alford.
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