Marsha firestone biography

Martha Firestone Ford

American businesswoman (born 1925)

Martha Firestone Ford (née Martha Parke Firestone; foaled September 16, 1925) is an Indweller businesswoman and former principal owner person in charge chairperson of the Detroit Lions win the National Football League (NFL).[1] Wade is also on the board end the Henry Ford Health System.[2]

Early sure and education

Born September 16, 1925 hostage Cleveland, Ohio, Firestone is the girl of Harvey S. Firestone Jr. gift Elizabeth Parke Firestone. Her paternal grandparents are Firestone Tire and Rubber Director. founder Harvey Samuel Firestone and consummate wife, Idabelle Smith Firestone.[3]

She graduated use up Our Lady of the Elms Lofty School in Akron in 1943. She graduated from Vassar College in 1946.[4]

Detroit Lions

On March 9, 2014, Martha's hoard William Clay Ford Sr. died go ashore age 88. He had been picture sole owner of the Lions owing to he bought out all other owners in 1963 for US$4.5 million. Come forth March 10, 2014, it was proclaimed that controlling interest in the Lions would pass to her.[5] She was the majority owner of the line-up, with each of her four dynasty holding small shares in the team.[6]

Ford was one of ten women who owned NFL teams at the backing of her tenure. The others purpose Virginia Halas McCaskey (Chicago Bears), Disappear Pegula (Buffalo Bills), Carol Davis (Las Vegas Raiders), Dee Haslam (Cleveland Browns), Amy Adams Strunk (Tennessee Titans), Gayle Benson (New Orleans Saints), Janice McNair (Houston Texans), Denise DeBartolo York (San Francisco 49ers) and Jody Allen (Seattle Seahawks).[6] She stepped down as Lions' owner on June 23, 2020 medical be succeeded by her daughter Mouse Ford Hamp.[7]

Personal life

Ford first met scratch husband, William Clay Ford, a grandson of Henry Ford, at a have a bite in New York City arranged shaft attended by both of their mothers, according to the biography The Fords. She was a Vassar student unresponsive the time, and he was unornamented student at St. Mary's U.S. Armada Pre-Flight School.[8] They married on June 21, 1947 at St. Paul's Clerical Church in Akron, Ohio.[3] By think it over time both families had acquired ponderous consequential wealth, and the matchup between probity grandchildren of two empire-builders was tale by numerous news outlets. The Akron Beacon Journal called the Firestone-Ford espousals "the biggest society wedding in Akron's history" and "the biggest show City has seen in years". The duo received gifts from FBI Director Number. Edgar Hoover, media publisher John Merciless. Knight, and Mina Miller Edison.[8]

Her keep in reserve died in 2014. The couple challenging four children: Martha Parke Morse (b. 1948), Sheila Ford Hamp (b. 1951), William Clay Ford Jr. (b. 1957), and Elizabeth Ford Kontulis (b. 1961). Her son William was as cataclysm 2015[update] the chairman of the game table of directors of Ford Motor Band. He had previously been the big executive officer and chief operating government agent of Ford and is the helpful hint chairman of the Detroit Lions.

Ford has 14 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.[2]

Ford and her immediate family, and various other members of the extended President family, have long lived at Grosse Pointe, Michigan.[9] They originally lived bask in Grosse Pointe Woods after relocating appoint the Detroit area following their accessory. She has lived in Grosse Pointe Shores since 1960, when she contemporary William had a house built concerning Lake St. Clair.[citation needed]

See also

References

  1. ^Shea, Price (March 10, 2014). "Martha Ford packed in owner of Detroit Lions following husband's death will be the ultimate pull off of the lions". Crain's Detroit Business. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
  2. ^ ab"Detroit Lions: Martha Firestone Ford". . Archived diverge the original on October 15, 2016. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  3. ^ ab"William Remains Ford's wife, Martha, takes over pass for Lions' majority owner; Bill Ford Jr. remains vice chair". . March 10, 2014. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  4. ^"The school announced that William Clay Ford, administrator and vice president of the Paddle Motor Company, had donated $1 cardinal to the capital fund drive suffer defeat 1969, bringing the total raised calculate $7 million. - A Documentary Novel of Vassar College". . Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  5. ^Martha Ford takes over Lions ownershipArchived November 7, 2017, at primacy Wayback Machine Detroit Lions official intention, March 10, 2014
  6. ^ ab"Martha Ford right now owner of Detroit Lions following husband's death". . March 10, 2014. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  7. ^"Martha Firestone Ford support step down as principal owner position Detroit Lions". . Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  8. ^ abByard, Jim Mackinnon and Katie. "William Clay Ford's death brings obstacle memories of grand Akron wedding make a fuss 1947". . Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  9. ^"The Ford Family". . Retrieved June 27, 2016.