Gilbert Ford
Encyclopedia
Gilbert "Gib" Ford (born September 14, 1931 in Tulia, Texas
) was an American
basketball
player who competed in the 1956 Summer Olympics
. Mr.Ford played collegiality at the University of Texas
.
He was part of the American basketball team, which won the gold medal in 1956.
A native of Texas, he played for Amarillo High School and in 1950 was a Texas High School All State player and participant in the Texas High School All Star Game. He is enshrined in the Texas High School Basketball Hall of Fame. Following High School, Mr. Ford played basketball for the University of Texas from 1950-1954 and was the Co-Captain of the team his senior year, when the team was Co-Champions of the Southwest Conference. He was name to various All SWC teams and took part in the 1954 Shrine East/West College All Star Game in Kansas City. In 1986, he was inducted into the University of Texas Longhorn Hall of Honor. After graduation from Texas in 1954, he was a started in the famous Phillips 66 Oilers, which won the National AAU Championship in 1955, and the National Industrial League Championship in 1955 and 1958. While serving in the Air Force, he played on the 1956 All Air Force Team and the All Armed Forces Team, which qualified for the 1956 Olympic Trials.
Professionally Mr. Ford has equaled his success on the court off the court in his business career. Mr. Ford was the former Chairman of the Board and CEO of Converse, Inc., having been appointed to that position in August, 1994. He previously held the position of President since 1986, after serving in a variety of executive capacities since joining Converse as a member of the sales staff in 1961. Mr. Ford officially retired December 1, 1996 after 35 years of service with the company.
During his professional career, Mr. Ford was affiliated with several sporting goods and footwear organizations. He served two terms, 1982-1985 and 1991-1993, as the Chairman of the Board of the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA). He was instrumental in creating the industry's first Super Show in 1986, the world's largest sporting goods trade show. He also was a member of the Board of Directors of: the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry
; the Two/Ten Foundation; the Footwear Industries of America; the Rubber and Plastic Footwear Manufacturers Association; the New England Sports Hall of Fame; and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. He served a six-year terms as a member of the Board of Trustees for Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, PA.
Tulia, Texas
Tulia is a city in, and county seat of, Swisher County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,117 at the 2000 census; in the 2005 census estimate, it had fallen to 4,714. The city is at the junction of U.S. Route 87 and Texas State Highway 86, approximately two miles east Interstate 27...
) was an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player who competed in the 1956 Summer Olympics
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
. Mr.Ford played collegiality at the University of Texas
Texas Longhorns men's basketball
The Texas Longhorns men's basketball team represents The University of Texas at Austin in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. The Longhorns currently compete in the Big 12 Conference....
.
He was part of the American basketball team, which won the gold medal in 1956.
A native of Texas, he played for Amarillo High School and in 1950 was a Texas High School All State player and participant in the Texas High School All Star Game. He is enshrined in the Texas High School Basketball Hall of Fame. Following High School, Mr. Ford played basketball for the University of Texas from 1950-1954 and was the Co-Captain of the team his senior year, when the team was Co-Champions of the Southwest Conference. He was name to various All SWC teams and took part in the 1954 Shrine East/West College All Star Game in Kansas City. In 1986, he was inducted into the University of Texas Longhorn Hall of Honor. After graduation from Texas in 1954, he was a started in the famous Phillips 66 Oilers, which won the National AAU Championship in 1955, and the National Industrial League Championship in 1955 and 1958. While serving in the Air Force, he played on the 1956 All Air Force Team and the All Armed Forces Team, which qualified for the 1956 Olympic Trials.
Professionally Mr. Ford has equaled his success on the court off the court in his business career. Mr. Ford was the former Chairman of the Board and CEO of Converse, Inc., having been appointed to that position in August, 1994. He previously held the position of President since 1986, after serving in a variety of executive capacities since joining Converse as a member of the sales staff in 1961. Mr. Ford officially retired December 1, 1996 after 35 years of service with the company.
During his professional career, Mr. Ford was affiliated with several sporting goods and footwear organizations. He served two terms, 1982-1985 and 1991-1993, as the Chairman of the Board of the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA). He was instrumental in creating the industry's first Super Show in 1986, the world's largest sporting goods trade show. He also was a member of the Board of Directors of: the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry
World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry
The World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry is an independent association formed by sporting goods brands, manufacturers, suppliers, retailers, national and regional federations and other sporting goods industry related businesses...
; the Two/Ten Foundation; the Footwear Industries of America; the Rubber and Plastic Footwear Manufacturers Association; the New England Sports Hall of Fame; and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. He served a six-year terms as a member of the Board of Trustees for Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, PA.