William Clay Ford receives a baseball – signed? – from Detroit Tigers catcher Mickey Cochrane at a 19 September 1934 game against the New York Yankees. Also pictured are Edsel Ford (left) and Henry Ford. Only one is in the Hall of Fame.
William Clay Ford, a former employee, director and a senior member of the Ford family, died this morning at his home from pneumonia. He was the sole remaining grandson of Ford Motor Company founder Henry Ford.
Mr. Ford, 88, served as Director Emeritus, Ford Motor Company and worked at Ford for 57 years as an employee and board member for more than half of its 110-year history. He was elected to the Board of Directors on 4 June 1948, and began his employment with the company after graduating from Yale University in 1949. In 1957, he was elected chairman of the Design Committee, a post he held for 32 years.
Mr. Ford had numerous roles outside of Ford Motor Company reflecting his privileged status. He became president of the Detroit Lions football team in 1961. He purchased the team in November 1963, reportedly for less than $6 million, and served as its chairman until his death. The Lions won a single playoff game during Ford’s controversial tenure, a January of 1992 victory of 38-6 against the Dallas Cowboys. If not a skilled football tactician, he was unquestionably a generous philanthropist and community leader.
Throughout his career, he was said to be instrumental in setting Ford’s design direction, overseeing the development of a number of classic vehicles, including the Continental Mark II, the likes of which failing Lincoln desperately needs now.
In 1978, Mr. Ford was elected chairman of the Executive Committee and appointed a member of the Office of the Chief Executive. He was elected vice chairman of the Board in 1980 and chairman of the Finance Committee in 1987. He retired from his post as vice chairman in 1989 and as chairman of the Finance Committee in 1995. He retired from the board and was named Director Emeritus on 12 May 2005.
William Clay Ford stands in front of his father, Edsel Ford during a family photo, circa 1929.
Born in Detroit on 14 March 1925, William Clay Ford was the youngest son of Mr. & Mrs. Edsel B. Ford’s four children. He attended Detroit University School in Grosse Pointe, Mich., and the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Conn. Mr. Ford enlisted in the Naval Air Corps in 1943 and attended the University of Michigan as part of his naval training. He was in flight training at the time of his discharge two years later. He then enrolled at Yale University, where he graduated in 1949 with a bachelor of science degree in economics.
Mr. Ford is survived by his wife of 66 years, Martha Firestone Ford; daughters Martha Ford Morse (Peter), Sheila Ford Hamp (Steven), and Elizabeth Ford Kontulis (Charles); son William Clay Ford, Jr. (Lisa); 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
“My father was a great business leader and humanitarian who dedicated his life to the company and the community,” said William Clay Ford, Jr., executive chairman, Ford Motor Company. “He also was a wonderful family man, a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him, yet he will continue to inspire us all.”
He was chairman of the board of trustees of the Henry Ford Museum from 1951 to 1983, after which he was named chairman emeritus. Mr. Ford served as a director of the Detroit Economic Club, was an honorary life trustee of the Eisenhower Medical Center and a national trustee for the Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs of America. He also was an honorary chair of the United Way for Southeastern Michigan and served on the Texas Heart Institute National Advisory Council.
In 1996, Henry Ford Hospital opened The William Clay Ford Center for Athletic Medicine, a leading sports medicine treatment and research institution. In 1997, the outdoor courts of the University of Michigan’s new tennis center also were named in his honor. The largest donor in history at the Henry Ford Museum, the Great Hall of the museum – The William Clay Ford Hall of American Innovation – also was named in recognition of his financial support.
Funeral services will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent in the name of William Clay Ford to the Henry Ford Museum at 20900 Oakwood Blvd., Dearborn, Mich. 48124 or to Dr. Scott Dulchavsky’s Innovation Institute at Henry Ford Health System at 2799 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit, Mich. 48045.
In honor of Mr. Ford’s memory, Ford Motor Company locations in the U.S. will lower their American and Ford flags to half-staff for a 30-day period. Ford locations outside of the U.S. will follow local custom.
