Stafford History

DeNean Stafford, Jr., the company founder, graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business in 1935.  He began working for the Trust Company Bank of Georgia in 1936 and continued to work for them until 1947.  His employment with the Trust Company Bank was interrupted by two and one-half years of service in the U.S. Army Air Corp. during World War II.

In 1947, Mr. Stafford moved to Tifton, Georgia, and entered the farm equipment and automobile business.  Purchasing the John Deere dealership in 1951, followed by Douglas and Valdosta in 1995 and 1996 along with Stafford Tractor Company, an Atlanta construction equipment entity, in 2000.  Stafford Heavy Iron, a company specializing in pre-owned machines, opened in 2004 while Stafford Tractor of the Carolinas and Stafford Atlantic Machinery, both crane and earthmoving equipment companies, opened in 2005.  The equipment division merged to form one company, STAFFORD, in 2006.

Mr. Stafford served in the Georgia State Senate from 1958 - 1960.  In 1960, he entered the hotel business with the development of two Holiday Inns in Atlanta, followed by the Holiday Inn in Tifton, Ramada Inn in Valdosta, Holiday Inn in Hilton Head and Bluffton, South Carolina and most recently Holiday Inn in Savannah, Georgia.  Stafford Hospitality was formed in 2000 to pursue growth in the hospitality industry.

The food sector soon found its way into his business.  In 1975, he franchised his first Wendy's restaurant.  The company currently owns and operates seven Wendy's restaurants in South Georgia.  In May 2000, Stafford Development opened its first PeachCreek combo store in Tifton, Georgia featuring a Wendy's restaurant combined with a Shell convenience store.  In February 2004, the company opened its second PeachCreek combo store in Tifton. Stafford Foods also owns and operates two CiCi’s Pizza restaurants in Tifton, Georgia and Dothan, Alabama as well as ten in Ohio.

Mr. Stafford's real estate investments continued over the next decade to include ownership or majority interest in over 1500 units of apartments; 2.2 million square feet of retail space; office buildings; and, other investment properties in Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina.  In 1993, Stafford Properties was formed to handle the management and development of the real estate portfolio.

DeNean Stafford Jr. passed away on March 26, 2001.  He is survived by his wife, Boo Stafford, and three children, DeNean, Mary Jane Stafford Theden and Sally Stafford Perez.  DeNean is the current chief executive officer and president of Stafford Development Company, as well as a member of the board of directors along with Sally and Mary Jane. The second generation is continuing to diversify by venturing into the health and technology industry with the development of Sovereign Solutions, a medical software company.

Today, the development company and other Stafford affiliated groups have a strong financial position.  Continued successful growth and development have always been, and will continue to be, the Stafford family's goal.