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. was an important American businessman. He was born on March 14, 1925, and passed away on March 9, 2014. He worked for the Ford Motor Company and was also the owner of the Detroit Lions, a professional football team in the National Football League (NFL). William Clay Ford Sr. was the youngest son of Edsel Ford and the last grandchild of the famous Henry Ford, who started the Ford Motor Company.
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Early Life and School Days
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William Clay Ford Sr. was born in Detroit, Michigan, on March 14, 1925. His parents were Edsel Ford and Eleanor Lowthian Clay.
He went to the Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut, and finished in 1943. Later, 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 earned seven varsity letters for his sports achievements. During World War II, William also served in the U.S. Navy Air Corps.
Family Life and Marriage
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 in Akron, Ohio, where Martha was from. Many news outlets reported on it because it brought together the families of two famous business leaders.
William and Martha had four children together:
- Martha Parke Morse (born 1948)
- Sheila Firestone Ford Hamp (born 1951)
- William Clay Ford Jr. (born 1957)
- Elizabeth Hudson Ford Kontulis (born 1961)
His son, William Clay Ford Jr., later became the Executive Chairman of the Board for the Ford Motor Company. William Clay Ford Sr.'s children Martha, Sheila, and William Jr. also serve as Vice Chairmen for the Detroit Lions. In 2020, Sheila became the main owner and chairwoman of the team.
Professional Career and Business Ventures
After finishing college, William Clay Ford Sr. started working for the Ford Motor Company. For a short time, he led the Continental Division. He helped redesign the Lincoln Continental, a car his father had originally created. The updated version, called the Continental Mark II, was released in 1955.
In 1948, William Clay Ford Sr. joined Ford Motor Company's board of directors. He was also the chairman of the board for the Henry Ford Museum from 1951 to 1983. He was involved with other historic places too, like the Wayside Inn and the Dearborn Inn.
In 1952, a large ship that carried iron ore was named in his honor. It was called the SS William Clay Ford.
Owning the Detroit Lions
William Clay Ford Sr. became a part-owner and president of the Detroit Lions football team in 1961. In 1963, he bought out all the other owners to take full control of the team. He paid $4.5 million for the team. During his time as owner, the Lions made it to the playoffs ten times. However, they never played in the Super Bowl. He was also the chairman of a professional soccer team called the Detroit Cougars for a short time.
Role at Ford Motor Company
William Clay Ford Sr. was the chairman of Ford Motor Company's Design Committee for 32 years, from 1957 to 1989. He 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.
In 2013, Forbes magazine reported that William Clay Ford Sr. was one of the richest people in the United States. He owned a large number of shares in Ford Motor Company, making him the biggest single shareholder.
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 died from pneumonia. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit, next to his parents and older brother.
See also
- Ford family tree
