William D. Ford
Encyclopedia
William David Ford was a U.S. Representative from Michigan
.
Ford was born in Detroit
and attended Henry Ford Trade School, Melvindale High School
, Nebraska State Teachers College
, and Wayne State University
.
He interrupted his studies to serve in the United States Navy
during World War II
, 1944–1946. He also served in the United States Air Force Reserve from 1950 to 1958.
After the war, he received a B.A.
from the University of Denver
in 1949, and an LL.D. from that university's College of Law
in 1951. He was admitted to the bar
in 1951 and practiced law in Taylor, Michigan
. He was justice of the peace for Taylor Township
, 1955–1957; city attorney for Melvindale
, 1957–1959; and attorney for Taylor Township, 1957–1964.
He was a delegate to the Michigan constitutional convention, 1961–1962, which drafted the state constitution adopted in 1963. He was a member of the Michigan State Senate, 1962–1964; member and officer of Michigan's Sixteenth District Democratic Organization, 1952–1964; delegate to Michigan Democratic conventions, 1952–1970, and to the Democratic National Convention
in 1968. He was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives
for the 89th
and the fourteen succeeding Congresses, serving from January 3, 1965 to January 3, 1995.
He was not a candidate for reelection to the One Hundred Fourth Congress. He was chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service in the 97th
through 101st Congresses
, and of the Committee on Education and Labor in the 102nd
and 103rd Congresses
.
He died at his home in Ypsilanti Township, Michigan
of complications from a stroke and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery
.
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Ford was born in Detroit
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
and attended Henry Ford Trade School, Melvindale High School
Melvindale High School
Melvindale High School is a public school located within Melvindale, Michigan, which is in the Downriver area. This school is offered to students that are in grades 9-12...
, Nebraska State Teachers College
Nebraska State Teachers College
The name Nebraska State Teachers College was once shared by several campuses in Nebraska:* Kearney, Nebraska - now known as University of Nebraska at Kearney* Peru, Nebraska - now known as Peru State College...
, and Wayne State University
Wayne State University
Wayne State University is a public research university located in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in the city's Midtown Cultural Center Historic District. Founded in 1868, WSU consists of 13 schools and colleges offering more than 400 major subject areas to over 32,000 graduate and...
.
He interrupted his studies to serve in 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...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, 1944–1946. He also served in the United States Air Force Reserve from 1950 to 1958.
After the war, he received a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from the University of Denver
University of Denver
The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
in 1949, and an LL.D. from that university's College of Law
Sturm College of Law
The University of Denver Sturm College of Law is one of two law schools in the state of Colorado, and the only law school in the Denver metro area. Founded in 1892, the Sturm College of Law is one of the first in America's Mountain West...
in 1951. He was admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
in 1951 and practiced law in Taylor, Michigan
Taylor, Michigan
Taylor is a city in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 63,131 at the 2010 census. Taylor was originally known as Taylor Township and residents of the township voted to incorporate as the City of Taylor in May 1968...
. He was justice of the peace for Taylor Township
Taylor Township, Michigan
Taylor Township was a civil township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. In 1968 Taylor Township incorporated as the City of Taylor....
, 1955–1957; city attorney for Melvindale
Melvindale, Michigan
Melvindale is a city in Wayne County of the U.S. state of Michigan and a downriver suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 10,715. Melvindale's slogan is "The Little City with a Big Heart."-History:...
, 1957–1959; and attorney for Taylor Township, 1957–1964.
He was a delegate to the Michigan constitutional convention, 1961–1962, which drafted the state constitution adopted in 1963. He was a member of the Michigan State Senate, 1962–1964; member and officer of Michigan's Sixteenth District Democratic Organization, 1952–1964; delegate to Michigan Democratic conventions, 1952–1970, and to the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
in 1968. He was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for the 89th
89th United States Congress
-House of Representatives:- Senate :* President of the Senate: Hubert Humphrey , starting January 20, 1965* President pro tempore: Carl Hayden - Majority leadership :* Majority Leader and Democratic Conference Chairman: Mike Mansfield...
and the fourteen succeeding Congresses, serving from January 3, 1965 to January 3, 1995.
He was not a candidate for reelection to the One Hundred Fourth Congress. He was chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service in the 97th
97th United States Congress
The Ninety-seventh United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1981 to January 3, 1983, during the final weeks of...
through 101st Congresses
101st United States Congress
The One Hundred First United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1989 to January 3, 1991, during the first two...
, and of the Committee on Education and Labor in the 102nd
102nd United States Congress
-House of Representatives:- Senate :* President:Dan Quayle * President pro tempore: Robert Byrd - Majority leadership :* Majority Leader: George Mitchell* Majority Whip: Wendell Ford- Minority leadership :...
and 103rd Congresses
103rd United States Congress
- House of Representatives :- Leadership :- Senate :* President: Dan Quayle , until January 20, 1993** Al Gore , from January 20, 1993* President pro tempore: Robert Byrd - Majority leadership :* Majority Leader: George Mitchell...
.
He died at his home in Ypsilanti Township, Michigan
Ypsilanti Township, Michigan
Ypsilanti Charter Township is a charter township of Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the township population was 49,182...
of complications from a stroke and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.