William David Ford | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromMichigan | |
| In office January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1995 | |
| Preceded by | District established (redistricting) |
| Succeeded by | Lynn Rivers |
| Constituency | 15th district (1965-1993) 13th district (1993-1995) |
| Member of theMichigan Senate from the21st district | |
| In office 1962–1964 | |
| Preceded by | Patrick J. Doyle |
| Succeeded by | Garry E. Brown |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1927-08-06)August 6, 1927 |
| Died | August 14, 2004(2004-08-14) (aged 77) |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Residence | Ypsilanti Township, Michigan |
| Alma mater | University of Denver |
| Profession | Attorney |
William David Ford (August 6, 1927 – August 14, 2004) was aU.S. Representative fromMichigan and namesake of theFederal Direct Student Loan Program and William D. Ford Career-Technical Center. Ford was known for his support ofworkers and educational opportunity. Among his significant legislative accomplishments were authoring theWorkers Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (the "WARN Act" or "Plant Closing Act") and the Middle Income Student Assistance Act, and his key role in passing theFamily and Medical Leave Act of 1993. In 1994, the Federal Direct Student Loan Program was named in his honor.[1][2]
Ford was born inDetroit and attendedHenry Ford Trade School,Melvindale High School,Nebraska State Teachers College, andWayne State University. His father, aScottish immigrant, was an autoworker who was killed on the job, an incident that influenced Ford's political views.[1]
He interrupted his studies to serve in theUnited States Navy duringWorld War II, 1944–1946. He also served in theUnited States Air Force Reserve from 1950 to 1958.
After the war, he received aB.A. from theUniversity of Denver in 1949, and aJ.D. from that university'sCollege of Law in 1951. He was admitted to thebar in 1951 and practiced law inTaylor, Michigan. He was justice of the peace forTaylor Township, 1955–1957; city attorney forMelvindale, 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 theMichigan 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 theDemocratic National Convention in 1968. He was elected as aDemocrat to theUnited States House of Representatives for the89th and the fourteen succeeding Congresses, serving from January 3, 1965 to January 3, 1995.
He was chairman of theU.S. House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service in the97th through101st Congresses, and of theCommittee on Education and Labor in the102nd and103rd Congresses. He did not seek re-election in the1994 election.
Ford died in 2004 at his home inYpsilanti Township, Michigan of complications from a stroke and was buried atArlington National Cemetery.[3]
Despite their shared surname and home state, William D. Ford was not related to either theHenry Ford family or U.S. presidentGerald Ford.[1]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromMichigan's 15th congressional district 1965–1993 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromMichigan's 13th congressional district 1993–1995 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by James M. Hanley New York | Chairman ofHouse Post Office and Civil Service Committee 1981–1991 | Succeeded by Bill Clay Missouri |
| Preceded by Augustus F. Hawkins California | Chairman ofHouse Education and Labor Committee 1991–1995 | Succeeded by William F. Goodling Pennsylvania |
| Education and Labor (1867–1883) |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Education (1883–1947) | ||
| Labor (1883–1947) | ||
| Education and Labor* (1947–) | ||
| Note | * Alternately namedEconomic and Educational Opportunities in 104th Congress andEducation and the Workforce in 105th through 109th and 112th through 115th Congresses. | |
| Post Office and Post Roads (1808–1947) | | |
|---|---|---|
| (Reform in the) Civil Service* (1893–1947) | ||
| Post Office and Civil Service (1947–1995) | ||
| Note | *Name shortened fromReform in the Civil Service toCivil Service in 1925. | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
