Hallie Ford
Encyclopedia
Hallie Brown Ford was an American
business person and philanthropist
. A native of Oklahoma
, she acquired her wealth in Oregon
through the timber industry. As a philanthropist she made donations to many institutions in Oklahoma and Oregon to support education and the arts. Hallie Ford Museum of Art
and several other institutions at Willamette University
in Oregon are named in her honor, as are several items at her alma mater East Central University
in Oklahoma.
, on March 17, 1905. At the time it was Indian Territory
, with Oklahoma
becoming a state in 1907. She attended Beggs High School where she was valedictorian. She worked her way through college at East Central State Normal School
(now East Central University) in the town of Ada
. There she earned a teaching certificate and a bachelor’s degree in 1930. After college she began teaching in Oklahoma.
with her parents and began teaching in that area during the Great Depression
. She met Kenneth Ford there, and the two married in 1935. After their marriage they moved to the Roseburg, Oregon
, area where they started and ran the Roseburg Lumber Company
(now Roseburg Forest Products Company). They had a daughter, Carmen, and a son, Allyn. In 1957, with her husband, she helped found the charitable organization that became the Ford Family Foundation. In 1959, she worked with artist Harry Widman on a 200-plus piece art exhibit for Oregon's Centennial
in Roseburg. In Roseburg she was a civic leader, and was given the First Citizens Award in 1967 by the local chamber of commerce.
in 1972. In 1975, she became a member of the board of trustees at Willamette University
in Salem. In 1992 her alma mater, East Central University
, named her as a distinguished alumni. The Fords' charity created the Ford Scholars Program scholarships for Oregon students in 1993. She then started the Ford Opportunity Scholarship Program in 1995 for single parents. Ford became a lifetime member of the board of trustees at Willamette in 1996, and received the Governor of Oregon
's Arts Award for Arts Patronage. That year her charitable foundation became the Ford Family Foundation. Her husband Kenneth died on February 8, 1997. In 2002, she moved to an assisted living facility in Monmouth, Oregon
.
In 2006, Ford donated an additional $8 million to Willamette University, the largest single donation in that school's history. In May 2007, Hallie Ford donated $15 million to the Pacific Northwest College of Art
, the largest donation in that school's history. The donation would primarily be used for a visiting artists program. This donation to the college was the largest donation to any cultural group in Oregon's history. Also that month she was given the Distinguished Philanthropist Award by East Central University.
Given before her death, but announced after her passing was an $8 million donation to Oregon State University
, the alma mater of her daughter Carmen Ford Phillips. The gift went toward the Hallie Ford Center for Healthy Children and Families as part of the school's College of Health and Human Sciences.
, at the age of 102 after a brief illness. Ford Hall at Willamette University is named in her honor, as is the school's English and literature endowed professorship. At East Central University the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center and the Hallie Brown Ford Award for Philanthropy honor her legacy at the school where she donated approximately $7 million over the years.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
business person and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
. A native of Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, she acquired her wealth in Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
through the timber industry. As a philanthropist she made donations to many institutions in Oklahoma and Oregon to support education and the arts. Hallie Ford Museum of Art
Hallie Ford Museum of Art
The Hallie Ford Museum of Art is the museum of Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, United States. It is the third largest art museum in Oregon. Opened in 1998, the facility is across the street from the Oregon State Capital in downtown Salem, on the western edge of the school campus...
and several other institutions at Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
in Oregon are named in her honor, as are several items at her alma mater East Central University
East Central University
East Central University is a four year public university in Ada, Oklahoma, located in the south central region of the state. The university also has courses available in McAlester, Shawnee, Ardmore, and Durant....
in Oklahoma.
Early life
Hallie Brown was born in Red Fork, OklahomaRed Fork, Oklahoma
Red Fork is a community in Southwest Tulsa. It was founded in 1883 as a railhead on the Arkansas River. It is famous for being the location of the first oil well in Tulsa County, the Sue A. Bland. On June 25, 1901, the first oil well in Tulsa County was completed by Drs. J.C.W. Bland and Fred S....
, on March 17, 1905. At the time it was Indian Territory
Indian Territory
The Indian Territory, also known as the Indian Territories and the Indian Country, was land set aside within the United States for the settlement of American Indians...
, with Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
becoming a state in 1907. She attended Beggs High School where she was valedictorian. She worked her way through college at East Central State Normal School
East Central University
East Central University is a four year public university in Ada, Oklahoma, located in the south central region of the state. The university also has courses available in McAlester, Shawnee, Ardmore, and Durant....
(now East Central University) in the town of Ada
Ada, Oklahoma
Ada is a city in and the county seat of Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 16,008 at the 2000 census. As of 2009, the city population was estimated at 17,019....
. There she earned a teaching certificate and a bachelor’s degree in 1930. After college she began teaching in Oklahoma.
Oregon
She moved to Lebanon, OregonLebanon, Oregon
Lebanon is a city in Linn County, Oregon, United States. Lebanon is located in northwest Oregon, southeast of Salem. The population was 12,950 at the 2000 census and the 2008 census data shows the population at 15,397.-Geography:...
with her parents and began teaching in that area during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. She met Kenneth Ford there, and the two married in 1935. After their marriage they moved to the Roseburg, Oregon
Roseburg, Oregon
Roseburg is a city in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is the county seat of Douglas County. The population was 21,181 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, area where they started and ran the Roseburg Lumber Company
Roseburg Forest Products
Roseburg Forest Products, based in Roseburg, Oregon, is one of the largest privately owned wood–products companies in the United States. Originally named Roseburg Lumber, the company was founded by Kenneth Ford in 1937, operating mills throughout Western Oregon. In the early 1980s it was renamed...
(now Roseburg Forest Products Company). They had a daughter, Carmen, and a son, Allyn. In 1957, with her husband, she helped found the charitable organization that became the Ford Family Foundation. In 1959, she worked with artist Harry Widman on a 200-plus piece art exhibit for Oregon's Centennial
Oregon Centennial
The Oregon Centennial was the 100th anniversary of the statehood of the U.S. state of Oregon. The day of the anniversary was February 14, 1959, but centennial events took place throughout the year...
in Roseburg. In Roseburg she was a civic leader, and was given the First Citizens Award in 1967 by the local chamber of commerce.
Later years and philanthropy
Hallie moved to Salem, OregonSalem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
in 1972. In 1975, she became a member of the board of trustees at Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
in Salem. In 1992 her alma mater, East Central University
East Central University
East Central University is a four year public university in Ada, Oklahoma, located in the south central region of the state. The university also has courses available in McAlester, Shawnee, Ardmore, and Durant....
, named her as a distinguished alumni. The Fords' charity created the Ford Scholars Program scholarships for Oregon students in 1993. She then started the Ford Opportunity Scholarship Program in 1995 for single parents. Ford became a lifetime member of the board of trustees at Willamette in 1996, and received the Governor of Oregon
Governor of Oregon
The Governor of Oregon is the top executive of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon. The title of governor was also applied to the office of Oregon's chief executive during the provisional and U.S. territorial governments....
's Arts Award for Arts Patronage. That year her charitable foundation became the Ford Family Foundation. Her husband Kenneth died on February 8, 1997. In 2002, she moved to an assisted living facility in Monmouth, Oregon
Monmouth, Oregon
- History :Monmouth was settled in 1853 by a group of pioneers who made a point of allocating to build both a city and a "college under the auspices of the Christian Church" and proceeds from the sale of these lands were used to found Monmouth University. By the early 1880s the college fell on...
.
In 2006, Ford donated an additional $8 million to Willamette University, the largest single donation in that school's history. In May 2007, Hallie Ford donated $15 million to the Pacific Northwest College of Art
Pacific Northwest College of Art
The Pacific Northwest College of Art is a private fine art and design college in Portland in the U.S. state of Oregon. Established in 1910, the art school grants bachelor of fine arts degrees and master of fine arts degrees and has an enrollment of about 550 students...
, the largest donation in that school's history. The donation would primarily be used for a visiting artists program. This donation to the college was the largest donation to any cultural group in Oregon's history. Also that month she was given the Distinguished Philanthropist Award by East Central University.
Given before her death, but announced after her passing was an $8 million donation to Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
, the alma mater of her daughter Carmen Ford Phillips. The gift went toward the Hallie Ford Center for Healthy Children and Families as part of the school's College of Health and Human Sciences.
Death and legacy
Hallie Ford died on June 4, 2007 in Monmouth, OregonMonmouth, Oregon
- History :Monmouth was settled in 1853 by a group of pioneers who made a point of allocating to build both a city and a "college under the auspices of the Christian Church" and proceeds from the sale of these lands were used to found Monmouth University. By the early 1880s the college fell on...
, at the age of 102 after a brief illness. Ford Hall at Willamette University is named in her honor, as is the school's English and literature endowed professorship. At East Central University the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center and the Hallie Brown Ford Award for Philanthropy honor her legacy at the school where she donated approximately $7 million over the years.