The Benson Ford Research Center remains closed to visitation by the general public and outside researchers during the Coronavirus Pandemic for in-person research, tours, visits, and educational programs, until further notice. He also worked for religious tolerance and in 1951 was named Protestant national co-chair of the National Conference of Christians and Jews. One time they took over the cash register in the cafeteria and gave out money to employees. Still, in 2006, the Ford heir passed over Fields when he picked Mulally for the CEO slot. Benson Ford Sr., with a history of heart problems, died of a heart attack on July 27, 1978, a week after his 59th birthday, aboard his yacht "Onika", docked at the resort community of Cheboygan, Michigan (originally an Ojibwe Chippewa Anishinaabe indigenous settlement, later resettled as Duncan City) where he was living at the time, primarily summers, and at other times, on Lake Hudson, near the northern tip of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. Close associates of Mr. Ford said that his battles with illness were the principal reason for his decision not to play a major role in the company over the years. The Benson Ford {1} was laid up for the final time at the Rouge slip in December 1981, being retired afterwards. The Fords have made it their duty to keep the profitable business in the family. Used Cars for Sale. Her oldest brother, Henry Ford II, was chairman and CEO of Ford Motor from 1945 until his retirement in 1979. . away) (864) 671-0503 | Confirm Availability Video Walkaround Delivery GOOD PRICE Used 2018 Kia Sorento L 17,995 72,724 miles 21 City / 28 Highway Benson Ford (2.52 mi. He, his brothers Henry II and William, and sister Josephine, grew up in Indian Village, and at the Ford's Gaukler Point estate in Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan, on Lake St. Clair. Benson Ford, 59, a grandson if auto pioneer Henry Ford, a vice president of the Ford Motor Co. and a supporter of charitable and civic organizations, died Thursday following an apparent. In 1924, the Benson Ford ship was built and launched on April 26, 1924, for the Ford Motor Company, designed and used for transporting iron ore and other materials across the Great Lakes. When Mulally decided to retire, Fields was far and away the Ford board of directors favored candidate. Benson drove a 1950 Mercury convertible as the Indianapolis 500 pace car in 1950. Twitter. The transition could be difficult, and rivals are watching intently. He also has to decide whether to push ahead with an expansion of Fords joint ventures in Russia in the wake of the crisis in the Ukraine. Chairman Ford, however, is being kept out of the public fight leaving the dirty work to his tough-talking Australian CEO, Jacques Jaq the Knife Nasser. [4], Mr. Ford received numerous citations for his contributions to religious and racial tolerance. Henry II and Benson were given the use of Henry's chauffeur. He loved to travel. By the time he returned to Fords headquarters just outside Detroit in the fall of 2005, Fields had earned high marks for helping to turn around struggling operations in South America and Europe. Jane Fields gave up her own career there to relocate with Mark as Ford moved their ambitious executive to company postings around the world. Fields, who has served as Fords chief operating officer since 2012, never hides his Jewish roots, but he does sidestep discussions of his religious background. The Edsel & Eleanor Ford House was the former private residence of Henry and Clara Ford's only child, Edsel, his wife Eleanor and their children: Henry II, Benson, Josephine and William Clay.. Together, they shattered the belief that the third generation kills companies. Benson opted not to mass produce the car at Lincoln-Mercury, but the car's appearances made an indelible impression and was a great publicity stunt for Benson Ford and Lincoln-Mercury. Though Lincoln-Mercury opted not to mass produce the Lincoln Futura, the sensational unique car would make Benson Ford famous, as he drove the car on the streets of New York City for curious crowds lining the streets in wonder, brought the car to auto shows across the United States, and appeared in newsreels promoting the new invention. In fact, between 2005 and 2008, the company posted losses of more than $30 billion. There was never a rift until now. "Walter Buhl Ford II, Alfred Ford, William Clay Ford, Bill Ford Jr., Edsel Ford II, Henry Ford II, Benson Ford Jr. and Benson Ford in the Main Hall at Gaukler Point, January 23, 1953." The rear fuel filler cap, which was typically adorned with the galloping pony logo, featured the initials "EBF II," for Edsel B. Ford II, great-grandson of company founder Henry Ford. His brother Henry Ford II, then in the United States Navy, who was honorably discharged from the service after his father's death to take over leadership at Ford Motor Company on request of the United States government. 4.9 (505 reviews) 4701 Calhoun Memorial Hwy Easley, SC 29640. We maintain relationships with multiple banks throughout Easley SC and we work with you, and your budget, to help you secure the best lease offer or loan agreement for your needs.We Keep You GoingGet Your Ford Serviced at Benson Ford Inc. in Easley SCIt is important for you to get your crossover, SUV or truck serviced on a regular basis . When his father Edsel, Ford Motor Company president, died of cancer on May 26, 1943 (during World War II), Benson continued his service the Army for the duration of the war. Fieldss plan called for closing factories, laying off thousands of workers and using Fords design expertise in Europe to build better cars that could be sold globally. Facebook. However, research center staff members are still present, and are responding to mail, email and telephone research inquiries. Lynn Ford Alandt, Benson Ford Jr., Edsel B. Ford II, William Clay Ford Jr., and Alfred Ford (also known as Ambarish Das) oversee the trust that holds these shares. Her name was changed to John Dykstra {2} to keep her former name active in the fleet. Detroit, MI (313) 961-0500. 2. 1 Energy Plaza. Benson Ford, Jr. Trust Dated J. Such a tense situation prevails today over the forced resignation two weeks ago of the Ford president and chief operating officer, Lee A. Iacocca. This hurts a lot. He has entered an orientation program in Ford's. Benson Ford was involved with the development of the 1949 Ford. So Fieldss family today lives in Delray Beach, Fla. Select this result to view Benson A Ford's phone number, address, and more. ", "Lincoln Futura (concept car that became the Batmobile) is revealed at Chicago Auto Show", "Benson Ford and William M. Schmidt with Lincoln Futura Concept Car, 1955 The Henry Ford", "The Lincoln Futura, Part 2: The Batmobile", "Clara Ford and Benson Ford Leaving the Funeral of Henry Ford, 1947 The Henry Ford", "Prodigal Son of Ford Dynasty Starts to Work for Family Firm", "Ford House opens long-awaited buildings", "Mission, Vision & Board of Trustees The Henry Ford", "Exclusive Access Inside the Historic Benson Ford Ship House", "About the Benson Ford Research Center The Henry Ford", Archival footage of Ford Motor Company Vice-President Benson Ford, Conference of Christians and Jews Re-elects National Officers, About the Benson Ford Research Center The Henry Ford, Official Site Benson Ford Shiphouse: The Ship On The Bay, Archival footage of Benson Ford and wife Edith driving a Lincoln Futura in Manhattan, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Benson_Ford&oldid=1141423043, American chief executives in the automobile industry, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Director of Lincoln-Mercury Dealer Policy Board, Chairman of the Board, Henry Ford Hospital, Co-Chairman, National Conference of Christians and Jews, This page was last edited on 25 February 2023, at 00:26. But it wasnt until the late 1970s that an executive with a Jewish background, Mervyn Manning, was promoted to the rank of vice president in one of Fords subdivisions. Fords mother, Martha Firestone Ford, is a granddaughter of the tire-maker founder. FOR 106 years, the Fords and Firestones were inseparable they built their business empires together and they married into each others families. 2000 BRUSH ST STE 440 DETROIT, MI 48226 Get Directions. The Benson Ford Research Center, internationally famous to automobile historians and auto buffs alike, is home to the world's most comprehensive resource for researching collections and stories of the late Henry Ford, the history of the automobile industry and American innovation, its ingenuity and resourcefulness, and home to research experts who maintain, interpret and enhance the collections. Automotive Oral Histories. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. By. But what began as a warm relationship turned ugly, he said. One of his primary interests was furthering the advances being made in medical research. Please email us at [emailprotected], subject line republish, with any questions or to let us know what stories youre picking up. Benson and Haden's relationship is another clear conflict of interest, but rather than officially informing their bosses that they're dating, the detective and ADA decide to end their relationship completely, which paves the way for David's resignation and closes off his four-episode arc on the show. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. And it hurts to see a family name and family heritage tarnished so badly.. Structural Info Facts Filmography Known for movies The American Road 1953 as Himself (home movie footage) The Ed Sullivan Show 1956 as Himself Source IMDB 70 Verified Reviews. It is sometimes rented for private functions. [30], Benson Ford was a director and or chairman for countless organizations including The National Safety Council, the Traffic Safety Association of Detroit, The Automotive Safety Foundation, Greater Detroit Committee for Project Hope, the Dermatology Foundation, the Citizens Conference on State Legislatures and the village of Grosse Pointe Shores. Copyright 2023 The Forward Association, Inc. All rights reserved. The trusts arent affected by the rise or fall of Firestone stock. Edsel Bryant Ford, Sheila's grandfather married Elenor Lowthian Clay and had Josephine Clay Ford, Henry Ford II, Benson Ford, William Clay Ford. The Detroit Free Press recently obtained a copy of the deposition. In June 1943, he and Henry II represented the 41.9% of shares that had been held by their father, Edsel I. In an earlier interview, Fields emphasized that he had never experienced any anti-Semitism during his quarter of a century at Ford. . The company pulled through the crisis, while its two rivals, Chrysler and General Motors, sought bankruptcy protection. This was the highest rank achieved by any member of the Ford family. He also has been an advocate within the company for advanced technology and better products. Just as Finkelman became Fields, however, the automaker founded by one of Americas most notorious anti-Semites has transformed itself over the decades. The price of the largely handmade car, which was marketed in the early 1950's, was around $10,000. Benson Ford Jr son . The Time cover is significant because it confirms the ongoing prominence, importance, influence, involvement, and equal significance of all three of Henry Ford's male grandchildren at Ford in the developmental future of the Ford Motor Company.[43]. Ford CEO Mark Fields (right), executive chairman Bill Ford (left) and outgoing CEO Alan Mulally. CLAIM THIS BUSINESS. unpublished ca. In October 1944 Benson was transferred to the Newfoundland Base Command of the United States Air Corps for 13 months. He is credited with saving the company from complete ruin in the late 1940s, and in later life was sued for allegedly using Ford Motor Company to bankroll his hard-drinking, womanizing lifestyle. Fields will also have to maintain Fords profitability and complete a major expansion of Fords operations in China, where the company is building four new plants, while nurturing operations in Europe. The rest are held by individual family members. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. Free shipping for many products! 16 Favorited the service shop. Benson was born to the Ford Motor Company's top shareholder. He feels he got some terrible advice from Fuentes. Benson was lured to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series midway through the 2004 season and would find the type of success that he had long aspired for winning 14 races (all between 2006 and. Service. After World War II Ford was re-organized in the image of General Motors into profit centers and a line and staff components. Too much Ford. [4] He joined his brothers Henry Ford II who was named Ford President in 1945, and William, who in 1955 became head of the Continental Division. Ford has lost $500 million on recalls. Bill Ford 1. The battle is also being felt personally by the hugely wealthy heirs of founders Henry Ford and Harvey S. Firestone. [13], Benson married Edith McNaughton, also of Grosse Pointe, daughter of Lynn McNaughton, a former vice president and general manager at motor car rival Cadillac, on July 9, 1941, in Christ Church Detroit. [1] Benson was a son of Edsel Ford I, and the grandson of Ford Motor Company founder Henry Ford I. Included in the book is a description of just how bizarre Bensons fight with his family became. Hollywood customizer George Barris took notice, and eventually bought the Futura from Ford in 1959. He was married to Edith McNaughton. He developed a close business and personal relationship with Max Fisher, a Detroit-based national Jewish communal leader, businessman and philanthropist, and with Fisher's encouragement, gave. Open until 8:00 PM. Facebook. [17][18] Benson was very supportive of Henry II and always had the company's best interest at heart. [20]. Any Alphas that fall short of such rigid expectations are often reviled and shunned. The Lions announced Tuesday that Ford's daughter, Hamp, is taking over as the team's principal owner and chairman. Family Henry Ford II Former Chairman and CEO of Ford (1945 to 1979) brother. The companies are escalating their war over whos to blame for exploding Firestone tires on Fords Explorer vehicles, linked to at least 174 car-wreck deaths. And the time William Clay Jr. cousin Alfred Ford became a member of the Hare Krishna religious sect and changed his name to Ambarish Das. He developed a close business and personal relationship with Max Fisher, a Detroit-based national Jewish communal leader, businessman and philanthropist, and with Fishers encouragement, gave freely to Jewish causes around Detroit. He was born in Lansing, earning cash as a teenager by fixing used televisions. Mr. Ford was a brother of Henry Ford 2d, the 60yearold chairman of the nation's No. They have also lived in West Bloomfield, MI and Grosse Pointe Park, MI. In 1951 he was selected by the Detroit Junior Board of Commerce as the "Outstanding Young Man of 1951". Benson Ford (1919-1978). Summary: Photographs show Benson Ford and wife Edith on their yacht; posed by a Lincoln automobile. On Monday, he started as a management trainee in the parts and service division. away) (864) 671-0503 | Her son wrote a glowing forward about her family in a book published for the Firestone centennial last year just at the time the defective-tire scandal erupted. The price was high. It was sold in 1981 to Frank J. Sullivan, and renamed the John Dykstra II. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Musks master plan for Tesla is built around sustainable energy economy, Nissan recalls over 800,000 SUVs because of defect that can cut off engine, Mexicos president says Musk will build Tesla EV plant in northern Mexico, Hyundai was poised to become Teslas top contender. [8][9] The fun continued on Ford Motor Company property. Benson Ford, Jr Trust Dated J. Benson Ford joined the Board of Trustees in 1946, and succeeded his grandfather as its president in 1947. Between 2009 and 2013, Ford earned more than $42 billion in profits. On January 30, 1948, Benson was elected a vice president of the company and appointed the director of the newly formed Lincoln-Mercury Division, carrying on in his father's foot-steps. Saved . A few years later, Benson Ford's Lincoln Futura would become world famous again as Barris turned Benson Ford's Futura car from pearlescent white to black color, and into the original Batmobile for the new 1966-1968 Batman television series. Mr. Ford left an estate, most of it in Ford Motor Company stock, valued at approximately $100 million. Fields and his wife, who met while both worked at IBM, have two sons. Benson Ford Shiphouse. The two corporate titans continued to socialize. In the rear, on the road, behind the Ford car with the three Ford grandchildren, at a far distance away, the late Ford Motor Company founder Henry Ford is depicted driving his original open top 1896 Quadricycle, which started the auto revolution. I have always been a Mustang fan. He will face some major challenges in the next few months. It does not include images; to avoid copyright violations, you must add them manually, following our guidelines. Where: 300 Provencal Road, Grosse Pointe Farms. He even served as bodyguard to President Calvin Coolidge for a brief period. 1 He married Lisa Vanderzee. The family has a pact that Class B shares put up for sale will first be offered to other family members. Company officials said that the brothers were flying back to Detroit. The company's proxy statement of 1pri11978 reflected his ownership of more than 31,900 share of common stock; more than 1.8 million shares of Class B stock, which controls 90 percent of the voting power on the company board and is limited in ownership to members of the family, and more than 17,500 shares of limited common stock in Ford Motor Company of Canada. Photo by Derek Blanks | Courtesy of CrowdMGMT. [4], Benson Ford was born in Detroit, Michigan, to Eleanor Clay Ford and Edsel Ford on July 20, 1919. During her final 24 months, she was named executrix of her late husband Benson's will, and eventually inherited 50 million of the 100 million dollar estate. Benson Ford Sr. (July 20, 1919 - July 27, 1978), originally named Edsel Ford Jr, was an American businessman in the automotive industry, a vice-president of Ford Motor Company, and national co-chairman of the National Conference of Christians and Jews.Benson Ford remains famous for: being the first prominent person in the Ford family to actively preach religious harmony between faiths . Not content, Benson brought the winning driver to meet with Ford engineers to identify areas for improvement. Bensons new role as a Ford employee comes seven years after he fought a court battle against his mother and other Ford family members in an effort to overturn the will of his late father, Benson Ford Sr., a brother of Henry Ford II. Still, in 1989, when Fields joined the manufacturer, Ford Motor Co. was hardly the most obvious choice for an ambitious junior executive from a Jewish background. The canyon is now so deep and wide, its over. In 1966, the new Batman became one of the first television series produced in full color by William Dozier, with the Lincoln Futura driven by Batman actor Adam West, briefly making the Lincoln Futura Batmobile the most famous and recognizable car in the world, and making unknown Batman actor Adam West the best known television actor in the world because of the car he drove in bat costume, along with his front seat costumed masked sidekick Robin, unknown actor Burt Ward. Still, there was speculation in some circles over his replacement on the company's board, executive committee and as chairman of the key dealer relations arm, the Ford Dealer Policy Board. 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