William Clay Ford, Sr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Clay Ford Sr.
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Ford in 1961
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| Born |
William Clay Ford
March 14, 1925 Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
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| Died | March 9, 2014 (aged 88) |
| Resting place | Woodlawn Cemetery, Detroit |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Yale University (BS) |
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| Spouse(s) |
Martha Firestone Ford
(m. 1947) |
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William Clay Ford Sr. (born March 14, 1925 – died March 9, 2014) was an American businessman. He was a very important person at the Ford Motor Company. He also owned the Detroit Lions, a professional football team in the National Football League (NFL). William Clay Ford Sr. was the youngest child of Edsel Ford and the last living grandchild of the famous Henry Ford, who started the Ford Motor Company.
Contents
William Clay Ford Sr.: Early Life and School
William Clay Ford Sr. was born in Detroit, Michigan, on March 14, 1925. His parents were Edsel Ford and Eleanor Lowthian Clay.
Growing Up and College Years
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He went to the Hotchkiss School in Connecticut and finished in 1943. After that, he studied at Yale University and earned a degree in Economics in 1949. While at Yale, he was a great athlete. He was the captain of both the soccer and tennis teams. He even played soccer so well that he was recognized as an "All-American" player. During World War II, he also served in the U.S. Navy Air Corps.
William Clay Ford Sr.: Family Life
After the war, William Clay Ford Sr. married Martha Parke Firestone on June 21, 1947. Martha was the granddaughter of Harvey S. Firestone, who founded the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. Their wedding was a very big event, reported by many newspapers.
Children and Grandchildren
William and Martha had four children together. Their names are Martha Parke Morse, Sheila Firestone Ford Hamp, William Clay Ford Jr., and Elizabeth Hudson Ford Kontulis. His son, William Clay Ford Jr., later became the Executive Chairman of the Board for the Ford Motor Company. Some of his children, including Sheila, also became important leaders for the Detroit Lions football team.
William Clay Ford Sr.: Business Career
After finishing college at Yale, William Clay Ford Sr. started working for the Ford Motor Company. He even helped redesign the Lincoln Continental car, which his father had originally created. The updated car, called the Continental Mark II, came out in 1955.
Leadership at Ford and Museums
In 1948, William Clay Ford Sr. joined the board of directors at Ford Motor Company. He was also the chairman of the board for the Henry Ford Museum for many years, from 1951 to 1983. He helped manage other historic places too, like the Wayside Inn and the Dearborn Inn. A large ship that carried iron ore was even named in his honor in 1952, called the SS William Clay Ford.
Owning the Detroit Lions
William Clay Ford Sr. became an owner of the Detroit Lions football team in 1961. He eventually bought out all the other owners to take full control of the team in 1963. Even though he owned the team for a long time, the Lions did not win many games. They made it to the playoffs ten times but never played in the Super Bowl. He also owned a professional soccer team for a short time, called the Detroit Cougars.
Later Years at Ford
He was the chairman of the Design Committee at Ford Motor Company for 32 years. He also served on the company's board of directors for 57 years, retiring in 2005. At that time, his son, William Clay Ford Jr., was the CEO of Ford Motor Company.
William Clay Ford Sr. was a very wealthy person. In 2013, he was one of the richest people in the United States. He owned a large amount of stock in the Ford Motor Company, which helped his family keep control of the company.
William Clay Ford Sr.: Passing Away
William Clay Ford Sr. passed away on March 9, 2014, at his home in Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan. He was almost 89 years old. He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit, near his parents.
