John McW. Ford
Encyclopedia
John McWilliams Ford was the longest-serving elected public official in Shreveport, Louisiana
. Though he served as mayor
only from 1918–1922, it was his tenure as finance commissioner that is most remembered for longevity
-- from 1930 until his death. The finance commissioner was established under the previous city commission government
, which was replaced in 1978 by the mayor-council form
of municipal government.
Ford’s first elective office was as city alderman in 1908. He was also a member of the Caddo Parish Police Jury, the parish governing body now known as the Caddo Parish Commission. A Democrat
, he served in the Louisiana House of Representatives
in 1916, until he stepped down in 1918 to become mayor after the death of S.A. Dickson, MD
Robert Hodges Ward had followed Dickson, and then Ford was elected to a single four-year term from 1918–1922. Ford then spent eight years in the private sector before returning to City Hall as finance commissioner, a position which he handily retained in the elections of 1930, 1934, 1938, 1942, 1946, 1950, 1954, 1958, and 1962. Dwight L. Saur, a Certified Public Accountant
succeeded Ford as finance commissioner in 1966. Saur himself died in office in 1971, and the position then went to its last occupant and only Republican
, George A. Burton, Jr.
The new city charter superseded the finance commissioner’s post.
, who served with Ford during the 1954-1958 term, said that the commissioner, though forty-four years his senior, was his mentor in city government. Writing in his memoirs entitled Jim Gardner and Shreveport, Vol. 1, Gardner recalled how Ford had helped Gardner’s father get his first job after having returned from the United States Navy
at the end of World War I
. Gardner continued:
“Despite the age difference, he was always extremely respectful of me, always referring to me as 'The Mayor.' In city council sessions, I could always count on [his] saying, 'I think that we ought to go along with the Mayor on this.' We became good friends, and I would visit with him every morning that I was Mayor. At this stage our unofficial visits involved his preparation of the 1955 city budget. He was very cooperative in some budget requests that I made. . . . John Ford was perhaps the most totally accessible public official that I ever knew. He answered his own telephone and always insisted on an office opening directly into a public corridor, and his door was always open. . . . "
Governor
John McKeithen
sent a message of condolence to the Ford family and the citizens of Shreveport: "Commissioner Ford’s contributions, not only to Shreveport but to all of Louisiana, leave a mark to which all public servants might well aspire. Commissioner Ford was truly a dedicated man, and we all will miss him."
Services for Ford were held at the Osborn Funeral Home Chapel in Shreveport, with the Reverend George Pearce, Jr., superintendent of the Shreveport district of the Methodist Church officiating, joined by the Reverend Robert Park, assistant rector
of St. Marks’s Episcopal
Church. Interment was in Greenwood Cemetery
.
Ford is remembered through the naming of Ford Park
on Cross Lake
.
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
. Though he served as mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
only from 1918–1922, it was his tenure as finance commissioner that is most remembered for longevity
Longevity
The word "longevity" is sometimes used as a synonym for "life expectancy" in demography or known as "long life", especially when it concerns someone or something lasting longer than expected ....
-- from 1930 until his death. The finance commissioner was established under the previous city commission government
City commission government
City commission government is a form of municipal government which once was common in the United States, but many cities which were formerly governed by commission have since switched to the council-manager form of government...
, which was replaced in 1978 by the mayor-council form
Mayor-council government
The mayor–council government system, sometimes called the mayor–commission government system, is one of the two most common forms of local government for municipalities...
of municipal government.
Ford’s first elective office was as city alderman in 1908. He was also a member of the Caddo Parish Police Jury, the parish governing body now known as the Caddo Parish Commission. A Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, he served in the Louisiana House of Representatives
Louisiana State Legislature
The Louisiana State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is bicameral body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 representatives, and the upper house, the Louisiana Senate with 39 senators...
in 1916, until he stepped down in 1918 to become mayor after the death of S.A. Dickson, MD
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
Robert Hodges Ward had followed Dickson, and then Ford was elected to a single four-year term from 1918–1922. Ford then spent eight years in the private sector before returning to City Hall as finance commissioner, a position which he handily retained in the elections of 1930, 1934, 1938, 1942, 1946, 1950, 1954, 1958, and 1962. Dwight L. Saur, a Certified Public Accountant
Certified Public Accountant
Certified Public Accountant is the statutory title of qualified accountants in the United States who have passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and have met additional state education and experience requirements for certification as a CPA...
succeeded Ford as finance commissioner in 1966. Saur himself died in office in 1971, and the position then went to its last occupant and only Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, George A. Burton, Jr.
George A. Burton
George Aubrey Burton, Jr. , is a Certified Public Accountant and the last elected finance commissioner in Shreveport. Burton is the first Republican since Reconstruction to have been elected to municipal office in Shreveport, having served as finance commissioner from 1971-1978...
The new city charter superseded the finance commissioner’s post.
Gardner and McKeithen laud Ford
Former Shreveport Mayor James C. GardnerJames C. Gardner
James Creswell Gardner, I, known as Jim Gardner , was a power company executive best known as the mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana, who served a single term from 1954-1958....
, who served with Ford during the 1954-1958 term, said that the commissioner, though forty-four years his senior, was his mentor in city government. Writing in his memoirs entitled Jim Gardner and Shreveport, Vol. 1, Gardner recalled how Ford had helped Gardner’s father get his first job after having returned from the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
at the end of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Gardner continued:
“Despite the age difference, he was always extremely respectful of me, always referring to me as 'The Mayor.' In city council sessions, I could always count on [his] saying, 'I think that we ought to go along with the Mayor on this.' We became good friends, and I would visit with him every morning that I was Mayor. At this stage our unofficial visits involved his preparation of the 1955 city budget. He was very cooperative in some budget requests that I made. . . . John Ford was perhaps the most totally accessible public official that I ever knew. He answered his own telephone and always insisted on an office opening directly into a public corridor, and his door was always open. . . . "
Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
John McKeithen
John McKeithen
John Julian McKeithen was the 49th Governor of Louisiana, serving from 1964 to 1972. A Democrat from the town of Columbia, he was the first governor of his state in the twentieth century to serve two consecutive terms...
sent a message of condolence to the Ford family and the citizens of Shreveport: "Commissioner Ford’s contributions, not only to Shreveport but to all of Louisiana, leave a mark to which all public servants might well aspire. Commissioner Ford was truly a dedicated man, and we all will miss him."
Services for Ford were held at the Osborn Funeral Home Chapel in Shreveport, with the Reverend George Pearce, Jr., superintendent of the Shreveport district of the Methodist Church officiating, joined by the Reverend Robert Park, assistant rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of St. Marks’s Episcopal
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
Church. Interment was in Greenwood Cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
.
Ford is remembered through the naming of Ford Park
Ford Park (Shreveport, Louisiana)
Ford Park is a popular facility operated by the City of Shreveport, the seat of Caddo Parish in northwestern Louisiana. The park is located in north Shreveport at 5784 South Lakeshore Drive near the municipal pier and boat launch....
on Cross Lake
Cross Lake (Shreveport, Louisiana)
Cross Lake is an lake located near Shreveport, Louisiana. The waterway provides the water supply for the City of Shreveport. Moss covered cypress trees line the banks of this open lake popular for fishing and recreational boating. Supporting waterfowl, alligators and an abundance of wildlife...
.