Gerald J. Ford
Encyclopedia
Gerald J. Ford is a successful Texas
banker known for buying and selling thrift banks. Ford bought his first bank in 1975 for $1.2 million and later sold it for a profit of $80 million.
One of Ford's most successful transactions occurred in 2002 when he sold California
-based Golden State Bancorp to Citigroup
for $6 billion; his personal stake is now worth more than $1.1 billion.
Ford has been a member of the SMU Board of Trustees since 1992. He is chair of the board's Finance Committee and a member of its Executive Committee, Trusteeship Committee, Committee on Athletics and Executive Committee of the Campaign for SMU. He also currently serves as co-chair of the Dedman College Campaign Committee and on the Executive Board of Dedman School of Law
. He is a former member of the Executive Boards of Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
, Edwin L. Cox School of Business, John Goodwin Tower Center for Political Studies
and Willis M. Tate Distinguished Lecture Series.
Ford is former chair of the board and chief executive officer of Golden State Bancorp Inc., headquartered in San Francisco. It was a holding company for the nation's second largest thrift institution and California's fourth largest bank. He also is board chair and CEO of Liberté Investors Inc., an investment firm. Described as a quintessential entrepreneurial banker, the West Texas native began his banking career by purchasing a number of small banks in rural areas of the state. He is currently Chairman of the board at Hilltop Holdings, a bank- and insurance holding company.
Ford's other investments include the auto-finance company AmeriCredit
, Pacific Capital Bancorp and 120,000 acres (486 km²) of rangeland
in New Mexico
.
Gerald J. Ford was raised in Pampa, TX
and graduated from Pampa Senior High School before attending Southern Methodist University
, where he was an Alpha Tau Omega
He would later donate the money to build the new football stadium at SMU
, and it was subsequently named after him; the Gerald J. Ford Stadium
. During his school days in Pampa, TX
, he spent many hours helping his father, Coyle, at Ford's Paint and Body Shop.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
banker known for buying and selling thrift banks. Ford bought his first bank in 1975 for $1.2 million and later sold it for a profit of $80 million.
One of Ford's most successful transactions occurred in 2002 when he sold California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
-based Golden State Bancorp to Citigroup
Citigroup
Citigroup Inc. or Citi is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. Citigroup was formed from one of the world's largest mergers in history by combining the banking giant Citicorp and financial conglomerate...
for $6 billion; his personal stake is now worth more than $1.1 billion.
Ford has been a member of the SMU Board of Trustees since 1992. He is chair of the board's Finance Committee and a member of its Executive Committee, Trusteeship Committee, Committee on Athletics and Executive Committee of the Campaign for SMU. He also currently serves as co-chair of the Dedman College Campaign Committee and on the Executive Board of Dedman School of Law
Dedman School of Law
The Southern Methodist University School of Law, commonly referred to as SMU Law School or Dedman School of Law is a prominent professional graduate law school located in Dallas, Texas. Founded in February 1925, the school remains the only law school in Dallas...
. He is a former member of the Executive Boards of Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences
Dedman College of Southern Methodist University was named in 1981 in honor of its benefactors, Robert H. Dedman Sr. and his wife, Nancy McMillan Dedman, both of Dallas.- Areas of Study :...
, Edwin L. Cox School of Business, John Goodwin Tower Center for Political Studies
John Goodwin Tower Center for Political Studies
-Mission:The primary mission of the Tower Center is to promote the study of politics and international affairs and to stimulate an interest in ethical public service among undergraduates...
and Willis M. Tate Distinguished Lecture Series.
Ford is former chair of the board and chief executive officer of Golden State Bancorp Inc., headquartered in San Francisco. It was a holding company for the nation's second largest thrift institution and California's fourth largest bank. He also is board chair and CEO of Liberté Investors Inc., an investment firm. Described as a quintessential entrepreneurial banker, the West Texas native began his banking career by purchasing a number of small banks in rural areas of the state. He is currently Chairman of the board at Hilltop Holdings, a bank- and insurance holding company.
Ford's other investments include the auto-finance company AmeriCredit
AmeriCredit
General Motors Financial Company, Inc. is a financial services arm of General Motors. Founded in 1992 as AmeriCredit, GM Financial provides car loans through automobile dealerships to medium- and moderate-risk customers in the United States and Canada. The company is located in Fort Worth,...
, Pacific Capital Bancorp and 120,000 acres (486 km²) of rangeland
Rangeland
Rangelands are vast natural landscapes in the form of grasslands, shrublands, woodlands, wetlands, and deserts. Types of rangelands include tallgrass and shortgrass prairies, desert grasslands and shrublands, woodlands, savannas, chaparrals, steppes, and tundras...
in New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
.
Gerald J. Ford was raised in Pampa, TX
Pampa, Texas
Pampa is a city in Gray County, Texas, United States. The population was 17,887 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Gray County.Pampa is the principal city of the Pampa Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Gray and Roberts counties....
and graduated from Pampa Senior High School before attending Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
, where he was an Alpha Tau Omega
Alpha Tau Omega
Alpha Tau Omega is a secret American leadership and social fraternity.The Fraternity has more than 250 active and inactive chapters, more than 200,000 initiates, and over 7,000 active undergraduate members. The 200,000th member was initiated in early 2009...
He would later donate the money to build the new football stadium at SMU
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
, and it was subsequently named after him; the Gerald J. Ford Stadium
Gerald J. Ford Stadium
Gerald J. Ford Stadium is a stadium in University Park, Texas, one of the two "Park Cities" that form an enclave within the city limits of Dallas. The stadium is used primarily for football, and it is home to the Southern Methodist University Mustangs and is frequently used for local high school...
. During his school days in Pampa, TX
Pampa, Texas
Pampa is a city in Gray County, Texas, United States. The population was 17,887 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Gray County.Pampa is the principal city of the Pampa Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Gray and Roberts counties....
, he spent many hours helping his father, Coyle, at Ford's Paint and Body Shop.