National Football Foundation

Harold Alfond was born in Swampscott, Massachsetts, on March 6, 1914, the son of  Russian Jewish immigrants Simon and Rose Alfond. In high school, Harold was an outstanding athlete and developed his passion for sports.

After graduating from high school in 1934, Alfond got a job at Kesslen Shoe Company in Kennebunck, Maine, where his father worked. In a short time, he rose from odd shoe boy to factory superintendent. In 1940, Alfond and his father bought a shoe factory in Norridgewock and founded Norrwock Shoe Company. They sold the company to Shoe Corp. of America in 1943 and Alfond stayed on as president for 25 years.

In 1956, Alfond left to purchase an old woolen mill in Dexter, Maine.There he produced shoes for growing department stores such as Sears and J.C. Penney. Before long, he was tired of being controlled by a few large corporations, and thus switched to being a "branded business". He developed a line of shoes under the Dexter name, hired a sales force and began selling to independent shoe stores across the country. He is credited with the invention of the factory outlet store.By the 1990's, the Dexter Factory Outlet chain had expanded to over 80 stores. The company was sold to Berkshire Hathaway in 1993, on Alfond's condition that the company would remain with the family's management.

It's what Alfond did with his extraordinary success in business that sets him apart. The Dexter Shoe Company remains today one of the State of Maine's largest employers and Alfond, for his part, has never forgotten his roots and those early years. He has said many times, "The people of Maine made my success possible and I have always felt it was right to give back to the State whenever and wherever I can."

That he has done. In a big-time way. First of all, the Dexter Shoe Company is known, uniquely, for truly caring about its employees and the community. Alfond would have it no other way.

To the folks in Maine, as well as other parts of the country, Alfond's generosity is well known. He has given in a major way to three colleges in Maine that he considers important, Colby College, Bowdoin College in Brunswick and the University of Maine in Orono. On a more personal level, Mr. Alfond has helped finance the college education of more than 100 students.

When a worthy organization needs a little help, Alfond and his wife of 52 years, Bibby, can always be counted on to "be there." They have given to medical societies, hospitals, prep schools, symphonies and many youth service organizations. Their total donations to date have surpassed $12,000,000. And with Alfond, it does not end with monetary giving. He also gives of his time.

Take the National Football Foundation's State of Maine Chapter. He has participated and given financial support. In 1993 he was honored by the Maine Chapter with its Distinguished American Award.

Because he has been so interested in education, Mr. Alfond is particularly pleased that the National Football Foundation has always placed such a high priority on the perpetuation of The Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award. Said Alfond, "I think the emphasis the National Football Foundation places on the importance of the Scholar- Athlete in college football establishes a pattern for everyone to emulate and support."

When last summer the National Football Foundation named Mr. Alfond its recipient of the 1995 Gold Medal, NFF chairman Jon F. Hanson said, "His business achievements are only overshadowed by his continuing contributions to scholarship, athletic excellence and community service. Harold Alfond has truly earned our Foundation's highest honor."

The Alfonds have three sons, a daughter and 14 grandchildren. After 37 years of "sitting with the crowd," he takes a well-deserved place at the head table.