Hall of Fame
Steve Byford was a four-year starter on the Rangers football team, anchoring the defensive line. He was a two-sport athlete, competing for five years with the football program and two years with the track and field team. Byford graduated with his bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1990.
Byford and the Rangers accumulated an overall record of 29-23. He helped lead the team to two football conference championships. He was a member of the 1986 football team, the first to win the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference (OIC) title in Northwestern history. The 1989 team followed with the second football OIC conference championship in program history. Both teams qualified for the NAIA national playoffs.
Byford earned first-team All-District Nine defense and first-team OIC all-conference. He compiled 58 total tackles along with four sacks, four pass breakups and seven tackles for losses during one of his best seasons with the Rangers. Throughout his career, Byford accumulated 124 solo tackles, 73 assisted tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and four pass breakups. He faced double-team blocking in nearly every game.
Throughout his collegiate football career, he was part of the all-district and all-region teams multiple times. Heading into the 1989 season, he was a preseason All-American and made the NAIA All-American honorable mention team. Byford was considered a team leader. “Steve never made excuses,” said coach Lee Brower. “He was easy to coach and wanted to get it perfect on every play.”
Competing in the shot put, Byford helped the 1990 men’s track and field program compete in the 1990 OIC conference championship. Academically, Byford was on the dean’s honor roll. Byford has spent his entire professional career with Walmart, holding various management positions in 12 different facilities in nine states.
