Ward B. Pafford was a chairman of the English Department at Emory University

Emory University

Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...

 from 1953 to 1958, Dean of Valdosta State University

Valdosta State University

Valdosta State University, also referred to as VSU, or Valdosta State, is an American public university and is one of the two regional universities in the University System of Georgia. Valdosta State is located on a campus at the heart of the city of Valdosta...

 from 1966 to 1971, and president of the University of West Georgia

University of West Georgia

The University of West Georgia is a comprehensive doctoral-granting university in Carrollton, Georgia, approximately 45 miles west of Atlanta, Georgia. The University is built on 645 acres including a recent land gift of 246 acres from the city of Carrollton in 2003...

 from 1971 until his retirement in 1975.

Early life and education

Pafford was born in Jesup, Georgia

Jesup, Georgia

Jesup is a city in Wayne County, Georgia, United States. The population was 9,279 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Wayne County.-Geography:Jesup is located at ....

 to Bascom Anthony Pafford and Jeanette Dukes Pafford. He graduated from Savannah High School. Pafford graduated with A.B. and M.A. degrees from Emory University

Emory University

Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...

and a PhD from Duke University.