Duncan Earl Alford

1963 - 2023

Duncan Earl Alford
October 17, 1963 - February 18, 2023
Columbia, South Carolina - We honor the passing of a native son of South Carolina recognized for his determination, hard work, and achievement as being one of the most well-regarded legal academics, administrators, scholars and private professionals. Duncan Earl Alford of Columbia,SC passed away at the age of 59 on February 18th, 2023. Duncan Earl Alford never forgot his home throughout his successful and varied career. Often moving closer back to the SC or 'family' as he called it until finally returning to educate in his homestate at the USC School of Law. While there, "Dean Alford" spearheaded major and lasting projects in both physical infrastructure and enhancing the student community benefiting not only the School of Law, USC itself, and Columbia SC as a community.
Duncan Earl Alford was born on October 17, 1963 to Dr. Earl Curry Alford, MD of Spartanburg, SC and Martha (Catherine) Van Ness Alford of (James Island/Charleston) and graduated from Spartanburg High School where he fondly remembers making sandwiches at Sub Station II and running cross country with many lifelong friends.
Duncan qualified for the prestigious Echols Scholars Program receiving his B.A. with High Distinction in Economics and French from the University of Virginia. Following a brief stint at UC-Berkeley's prestigious Economics PHD program, Professor Alford received his J.D. with Honors from the School of Law of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he served on the North Carolina Law Review. Professor Alford also attended the University of South Carolina College of Library and Information Science graduating with a M.L.I.S. in 2001. Duncan Alford joined the faculty of the University of South Carolina School of Law in April 2007 as Associate Dean and Director of the Law Library and Associate Professor of Law and became a full professor in August 2012.
Prior to attending law school, Professor Alford was a Business Analyst with McKinsey & Company, Inc., in Atlanta where he served clients in the telecommunications and banking industries. After graduation from law school, Professor Alford clerked for Chief Justice Burley Mitchell of the Supreme Court of North Carolina. He then practiced corporate and banking law with Kilpatrick Stockton in Atlanta. He later joined Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A., practicing corporate and commercial real estate law in Charlotte, NC and Rock Hill, SC and became a partner there in 2000.
Prior to joining the faculty at USC, Professor Alford served as the Associate Dean for Library and Information Services and Associate Professor of Law on the inaugural faculty of the Charlotte School of Law, in Charlotte, NC. Previously, Professor Alford was the Head of Reference and Adjunct Professor at the Georgetown University Law Library, Washington, D.C. He also served as the Law Librarian at Princeton University, and a Reference Librarian at the Columbia University Law Library in New York City.
Professor Alford taught first year legal research and began the law school's first International and Foreign Legal Research course in 2009, adding to the law school's offerings in international and foreign law. He has published numerous articles on legal research and banking law. His research interests include international banking law and international and comparative law generally. He has held research fellowships at the Swiss Institute of Comparative Law, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the American Academy in Rome including accessing Vatican Library Archives, the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium, and was a Fulbright Specialist at the University of Mkar, Benue State, Nigeria. He was admitted to practice law in South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia.
Duncan is survived by his daughter, Martha Scott Alford of Charlotte, NC, his son, Duncan George Alford of Lake Wylie, SC and his mother, Martha Catherine Van Ness Alford of Charlotte, NC. He is also survived by his loving siblings, Celia Alford Wilson and her husband, Brian, Tochie Alford Blad and her husband Robert, and Earl Kent Alford and his wife Nancy Wicker Alford, as well by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and true friends. He was predeceased by his father, Dr. Earl Curry Alford, MD.
A memorial service for family and friends will be held at Shandon Presbyterian Church, 607 Woodrow Street, Columbia SC, at 1 PM on Thursday, February 23, 2023. Visitation will follow at the church. Interment will take place at a later time at the Alford Family Cemetery on Minturn Road in Dillon County, SC.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Children's Attention Home, Rock Hill SC.
Memories and messages may be shared with the family on his tribute page at www.whitakerfuneralhome.com.