company name	Ford Motor Company
company logo
company type	Public company
traded as
foundation	June 16, 1903
founder	Henry Ford
location city	Dearborn, Michigan
location country	U.S.
area served	Worldwide
key people	William C. Ford, Jr.(Executive Chairman)Alan R. Mulally(President & CEO)
industry	Automotive
products	AutomobilesAutomotive parts
services	Automotive financeVehicle leasingVehicle service
revenue	(2010)
operating income	(2010)
net income	(2010)
assets	(2010)
equity	(2010)
num employees	164,000 (2010)
divisions	FordLincoln
subsid	Automotive Components HoldingsFord CreditTrollerFord of EuropeFord do Brasil
company slogan	Drive one. Have you driven a Ford lately? Built Ford Tough Powered by You Feel the differenceMake Everyday Exciting One Ford
homepage	Ford.com }}

Ford Motor Company () is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK. Ford's former UK subsidiaries Jaguar and Land Rover were sold to Tata Motors of India in March 2008. In 2010 Ford sold Volvo to Geely Automobile. Ford discontinued the Mercury brand after the 2011 model year.

Ford introduced methods for large-scale manufacturing of cars and large-scale management of an industrial workforce using elaborately engineered manufacturing sequences typified by moving assembly lines. Henry Ford's methods came to be known around the world as Fordism by 1914.

Ford is the second largest automaker in the U.S. and the fifth-largest in the world based on annual vehicle sales in 2010. At the end of 2010, Ford was the fifth largest automaker in Europe. Ford is the eighth-ranked overall American-based company in the 2010 Fortune 500 list, based on global revenues in 2009 of $118.3 billion. In 2008, Ford produced 5.532 million automobiles and employed about 213,000 employees at around 90 plants and facilities worldwide. During the automotive crisis, Ford's worldwide unit volume dropped to 4.817 million in 2009. In 2010, Ford earned a net profit of $6.6 billion and reduced its debt from $33.6 billion to $14.5 billion lowering interest payments by $1 billion following its 2009 net profit of $2.7 billion. Starting in 2007, Ford received more initial quality survey awards from J. D. Power and Associates than any other automaker. Five of Ford's vehicles ranked at the top of their categories and fourteen vehicles ranked in the top three.

Corporate governance

Members of the board as of early 2011 are: Richard A. Gephardt, Stephen Butler, Ellen Marram, Kimberly Casiano, Alan Mulally (President and CEO), Edsel Ford II, Homer Neal, William Clay Ford Jr. (Executive Chairman), Jorma Ollila, Irvine Hockaday Jr., John L. Thornton, and William Clay Ford, Sr. (Director Emeritus).

The main corporate officers are: Lewis Booth (Executive Vice President, Chairman (PAG) and Ford of Europe), Mark Fields (Executive Vice President, President of The Americas), Donat Leclair (Executive Vice President and CFO), Mark A. Schulz (Executive Vice President, President of International Operations), and Michael E. Bannister (Group Vice President; Chairman & CEO Ford Motor Credit). Paul Mascarenas (Vice President of Engineering, The Americas Product Development)

Market developments

During the mid to late 1990s, Ford sold large numbers of vehicles, in a booming American economy with soaring stock market and low fuel prices. With the dawn of the new century, legacy healthcare costs, higher fuel prices, and a faltering economy led to falling market shares, declining sales, and sliding profit margins. Most of the corporate profits came from financing consumer automobile loans through Ford Motor Credit Company.

By 2005, corporate bond rating agencies had downgraded the bonds of both Ford and GM to junk status, citing high U.S. health care costs for an aging workforce, soaring gasoline prices, eroding market share, and dependence on declining SUV sales for revenues. Profit margins decreased on large vehicles due to increased "incentives" (in the form of rebates or low interest financing) to offset declining demand.

In the face of demand for higher fuel efficiency and falling sales of minivans, Ford moved to introduce a range of new vehicles, including "Crossover SUVs" built on unibody car platforms, rather than more body-on-frame chassis. In developing the hybrid electric powertrain technologies for the Ford Escape Hybrid SUV, Ford licensed similar Toyota hybrid technologies to avoid patent infringements. Ford announced that it will team up with electricity supply company Southern California Edison (SCE) to examine the future of plug-in hybrids in terms of how home and vehicle energy systems will work with the electrical grid. Under the multi-million-dollar, multi-year project, Ford will convert a demonstration fleet of Ford Escape Hybrids into plug-in hybrids, and SCE will evaluate how the vehicles might interact with the home and the utility's electrical grid. Some of the vehicles will be evaluated "in typical customer settings", according to Ford.

In December 2006, the company raised its borrowing capacity to about $25 billion, placing substantially all corporate assets as collateral to secure the line of credit. Chairman Bill Ford has stated that "bankruptcy is not an option". In order to control its skyrocketing labor costs (the most expensive in the world), the company and the United Auto Workers, representing approximately 46,000 hourly workers in North America, agreed to a historic contract settlement in November 2007 giving the company a substantial break in terms of its ongoing retiree health care costs and other economic issues. The agreement includes the establishment of a company-funded, independently run Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA) trust to shift the burden of retiree health care from the company's books, thereby improving its balance sheet. This arrangement took effect on January 1, 2010. As a sign of its currently strong cash position, Ford contributed its entire current liability (estimated at approximately US$5.5 Billion as of December 31, 2009) to the VEBA in cash, and also pre-paid US$500 Million of its future liabilities to the fund. The agreement also gives hourly workers the job security they were seeking by having the company commit to substantial investments in most of its factories.

The automaker reported the largest annual loss in company history in 2006 of $12.7 billion, and estimated that it would not return to profitability until 2009. However, Ford surprised Wall Street in the second quarter of 2007 by posting a $750 million profit. Despite the gains, the company finished the year with a $2.7 billion loss, largely attributed to finance restructuring at Volvo.

On June 2, 2008, Ford sold its Jaguar and Land Rover operations to Tata Motors for $2.3 billion.

In January 2008, Ford launched a website listing the ten ''Built Ford Tough'' rules as well as a series of webisodes that parodied the TV show ''COPS''.

During November 2008, Ford, together with Chrysler and General Motors, sought financial aid at Congressional hearings in Washington, D.C. in the face of worsening conditions caused by the automotive industry crisis. The three companies presented action plans for the sustainability of the industry. The Detroit based automakers were unsuccessful at obtaining assistance through Congressional legislation. GM and Chrysler later received assistance through the Executive Branch from the T.A.R.P. funding provisions. On December 19, the cost of credit default swaps to insure the debt of Ford was 68 percent the sum insured for five years in addition to annual payments of 5 percent. That means it costs $6.8 million paid upfront to insure $10 million in debt, in addition to payments of $500,000 per year. In January 2009, Ford announced a $14.6 billion loss in the preceding year, making 2008 its worst year in history. Still, the company claimed to have sufficient liquidity to fund its business plans and thus, did not ask for government aid. Through April 2009, Ford's strategy of debt for equity exchanges, erased $9.9 B in liabilities (28% of its total), in order to leverage its cash position. These actions yielded Ford a $2.7 billion profit in fiscal year 2009, the company's first full-year profit in four years.

"The Way Forward"

In the latter half of 2005, Chairman Bill Ford asked newly appointed Ford Americas Division President Mark Fields to develop a plan to return the company to profitability. Fields previewed the Plan, dubbed ''The Way Forward'', at the December 7, 2005 board meeting of the company; and it was unveiled to the public on January 23, 2006. "The Way Forward" includes resizing the company to match current market realities, dropping some unprofitable and inefficient models, consolidating production lines, and shutting fourteen factories and cutting 30,000 jobs. These cutbacks are consistent with Ford's roughly 25% decline in U.S. automotive market share since the mid-late 1990s.

In 2010, Ford earned a net profit of $6.6 billion and reduced its debt from $33.6 billion to $14.5 billion lowering interest payments by $1 billion following its 2009 net profit of $2.7 billion. In the U.S., the F-Series is the best selling vehicle for 2010. Ford sold 528,349 F-Series trucks during the year, a 27.7% increase over 2009, out of a total sales of 1.9 million vehicles, or every one out of four vehicles Ford sold. Trucks sales accounts for a big slice of Ford's profits, according to USA Today. Ford's realignment also includes the sale of its wholly owned subsidiary, Hertz Rent-a-Car to a private equity group for $15 billion in cash and debt acquisition. The sale was completed on December 22, 2005. A 50–50 joint venture with Mahindra & Mahindra Limited of India, called Mahindra Ford India, Limited (MIFL), ended with Ford buying out Mahindra's remaining stake in the company in 2005. Ford had previously upped its stake to 72% in 1998.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ford also became President of the company in April 2006, with the retirement of Jim Padilla. Five months later, in September, he stepped down as President and CEO, and naming Alan Mulally as his successor. Bill Ford continues as Executive Chairman, along with an executive operating committee made up of Mulally, Mark Schulz, Lewis Booth, Don Leclair, and Mark Fields.

The domain ''ford.com'' attracted at least 11 million visitors annually by 2008 according to a Compete.com survey.

Brands

Ford Motor Company manufactures automobiles under its own name and as Lincoln in the United States. In 1958, Ford introduced a new brand, the Edsel, but poor sales led to its discontinuation in 1960. In 1985, the Merkur brand was introduced to market Fords from Europe in the United States; it met a similar fate in 1989. The Mercury brand was also introduced by Ford in 1939 but poor sales also led to its discontinuation in 2010.

Ford has major manufacturing operations in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Germany, Turkey, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, the People's Republic of China, and several other countries, including South Africa where, following divestment during apartheid, it once again has a wholly owned subsidiary. Ford also has a cooperative agreement with Russian automaker GAZ.

Ford acquired British sports car maker Aston Martin in 1989, but sold it on March 12, 2007, retaining a small minority stake, and bought Volvo Cars of Sweden in 1999, selling it to Zhejiang Geely Holding Group in 2010. In November 2008 it reduced its 33.4% controlling interest in Mazda of Japan, to a 13.4% non-controlling interest. On November 18, 2010, Ford reduced their stake further to just 3%, citing the reduction of ownership would allow greater flexibility to pursue growth in emerging markets. Ford and Mazda remain strategic partners through joint ventures and exchanges of technological information. It shares an American joint venture plant in Flat Rock, Michigan called Auto Alliance with Mazda. It has spun off its parts division under the name Visteon.

Ford sold the United Kingdom-based Jaguar and Land Rover companies and brands to Tata Motors of India in March 2008.

Ford's ''FoMoCo'' parts division sells aftermarket parts under the Motorcraft brand name.

Ford's non-manufacturing operations include organizations such as automotive finance operation Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford also sponsors numerous events and sports facilities around the US, most notably Ford Center (now Chesapeake Energy Arena) in downtown Oklahoma City and Ford Field in downtown Detroit.

Overall the Ford Motor Company controls the Ford and Lincoln car brands.

Brands !! Years Used !! Markets
Ford	1903–present	Global
Lincoln (automobile)	Lincoln	1922–present
Mercury (Automobile)	Mercury	1939–2011

Global markets

Initially, Ford Motor Company models sold outside the U.S. were essentially versions of those sold on the home market, but later on, models specific to Europe were developed and sold. Attempts to globalize the model line have often failed, with Europe's Ford Mondeo selling poorly in the United States as the Ford Contour, while U.S. models such as the Ford Taurus have fared poorly in Japan and Australia, even when produced in right hand drive. The small European model Ka, a hit in its home market, did not catch on in Japan, as it was not available as an automatic. The Mondeo was dropped by Ford Australia, because the segment of the market in which it competes had been in steady decline, with buyers preferring the larger local model, the Falcon. One recent exception is the European model of the Focus, which has sold strongly on both sides of the Atlantic.

North America

! Calendar Year	! American sales
1999	4,163,369
2000	4,202,820
2001	3,971,364
2002	3,623,709
2003	3,483,719
2004	3,331,676
2005	3,153,875
2006	2,901,090
2007	2,507,366
2008	1,988,376
2009	1,620,888
2010	1,935,462

In the first five months of 2010, auto sales in the U.S. rose to 4.6 million cars and light trucks, an increase of 17% from a year earlier. The rise was mainly caused by the return of commercial customers that had all but stopped buying in 2009 during the recession. Sales to individual customers at dealerships have increased 13%, while fleet sales have jumped 32%. Ford reported that 37% of its sales in May came from fleet sales when it announced its sales for the month increased 23%. In the first seven months of 2010, vehicle sales of Ford increased 24%, including retail and fleet sales. Fleet sales of Ford for the same period rose 35% to 386,000 units while retail sales increase 19%. Fleet sales account for 39 percent of Chrysler's sales and 31 percent for GM's.

Europe

At first, Ford in Germany and Ford in Britain built different models from one another until the late 1960s, with the Ford Escort and then the Ford Capri being common to both companies. Later on, the Ford Taunus and Ford Cortina became identical, produced in left hand drive and right hand drive respectively. Rationalisation of model ranges meant that production of many models in the UK switched to elsewhere in Europe, including Belgium and Spain as well as Germany. The Ford Sierra replaced the Taunus and Cortina in 1982, drawing criticism for its radical aerodynamic styling, which was soon given nicknames such as "Jellymould" and "The Salesman's Spaceship."

Increasingly, the Ford Motor Company has looked to Ford of Europe for its "world cars", such as the Mondeo, Focus, and Fiesta, although sales of European-sourced Fords in the U.S. have been disappointing. The Focus has been one exception to this, which has become America's best selling compact car since its launch in 2000.

In February 2002, Ford ended car production in the UK. It was the first time in 90 years that Ford cars had not been made in Britain, although production of the Transit van continues at the company's Southampton facility, engines at Bridgend and Dagenham, and transmissions at Halewood. Development of European Ford is broadly split between Dunton in Essex (powertrain, Fiesta/Ka, and commercial vehicles) and Cologne (body, chassis, electrical, Focus, Mondeo) in Germany. Ford also produced the Thames range of commercial vehicles, although the use of this brand name was discontinued circa 1965. Elsewhere in continental Europe, Ford assembles the Mondeo range in Genk (Belgium), Fiesta in Valencia (Spain) and Cologne (Germany), Ka in Valencia, and Focus in Valencia, Saarlouis (Germany) and Vsevolozhsk (Russia). Transit production is in Kocaeli (Turkey), Southampton (UK), and Transit Connect in Kocaeli.

Ford also owns a joint-venture production plant in Turkey. Ford-Otosan, established in the 1970s, manufactures the Transit Connect compact panel van as well as the "Jumbo" and long-wheelbase versions of the full-size Transit. This new production facility was set up near Kocaeli in 2002, and its opening marked the end of Transit assembly in Genk.

Another joint venture plant near Setúbal in Portugal, set up in collaboration with Volkswagen, formerly assembled the Galaxy people-carrier as well as its sister ships, the VW Sharan and SEAT Alhambra. With the introduction of the third generation of the Galaxy, Ford has moved the production of the people-carrier to the Genk plant, with Volkswagen taking over sole ownership of the Setúbal facility.

In 2008, Ford acquired a majority stake in Automobile Craiova, Romania. Starting 2009, Ford Transit Connect will be Ford's first model produced in Craiova, followed, in 2010, by low-capacity car engines and a new small class car.

Ford Europe has broken new ground with a number of relatively futuristic car launches over the last 50 years.

Its 1959 Anglia two-door saloon was one of the most quirky-looking small family cars in Europe at the time of its launch, but buyers soon became accustomed to its looks and it was hugely popular with British buyers in particular. It was still selling well when replaced by the more practical Escort in 1967.

The third incarnation of the Ford Escort was launched in 1980 and marked the company's move from rear-wheel drive saloons to front-wheel drive hatchbacks in the small family car sector.

The fourth generation Escort was produced from 1990 until 2000, although its successor – the Focus – had been on sale since 1998. On its launch, the Focus was arguably the most dramatic-looking and fine-handling small family cars on sale, and sold in huge volumes right up to the launch of the next generation Focus at the end of 2004.

The 1982 Ford Sierra – replacement for the long-running and massively popular Cortina and Taunus models – was a style-setter at the time of its launch. Its ultramodern aerodynamic design was a world away from a boxy, sharp-edged Cortina, and it was massively popular just about everywhere it was sold. A series of updates kept it looking relatively fresh until it was replaced by the front-wheel drive Mondeo at the start of 1993.

The rise in popularity of small cars during the 1970s saw Ford enter the mini-car market in 1976 with its Fiesta hatchback. Most of its production was concentrated at Valencia in Spain, and the Fiesta sold in huge figures from the very start. An update in 1983 and the launch of an all-new model in 1989 strengthened its position in the small car market.

Asia Pacific

In Australia and New Zealand, the popular Ford Falcon has long been considered the average family car and is considerably larger than the Mondeo, Ford's largest car sold in Europe. Between 1960 and 1972, the Falcon was based on a U.S. model of the same name, but since then has been entirely designed and manufactured in Australia, occasionlly being manufactured in New Zealand. Like its General Motors rival, the Holden Commodore, the Falcon uses a rear wheel drive layout. High performance variants of the Falcon running locally built engines produce up to . A ute (short for "utility", known in the US as pickup truck) version is also available with the same range of drivetrains. In addition, Ford Australia sells highly tuned limited-production Falcon sedans and utes through its performance car division, Ford Performance Vehicles.

In Australia, the Commodore and Falcon have traditionally outsold all other cars and comprise over 20% of the new car market. In New Zealand, Ford was second in market share in the first eight months of 2006 with 14.4 per cent. More recently Ford has axed its Falcon-based LWB variant of its lineup – the Fairlane and LTD ranges, and announced that their Geelong engine manufacturing plant may be shut down from 2013. They have also announced local manufacturing of the Focus small car starting from 2011.

However, with the acquisition of a stake in Japanese manufacturer Mazda in 1979, Ford began selling Mazda's Familia and Capella (also known as the 323 and 626) as the Ford Laser and Telstar, replacing the European-sourced Escort and Cortina.

In Australia, the Laser was one of Ford Australia's most successful models, and was manufactured in Ford's Homebush plant from 1981 until the plant's closure in September 1994. It outsold the Mazda 323, despite being almost identical to it, due to the fact the Laser was manufactured in Australia and Ford was perceived as a local brand.

In New Zealand, the Ford Laser and Telstar were assembled alongside the Mazda 323 and 626 until 1997, at the Vehicle Assemblers of New Zealand (VANZ) plant in Wiri, Auckland. The Sierra wagon was also assembled in New Zealand, owing to the popularity of station wagons in that market.

Through its relationship with Mazda, Ford also acquired a stake in South Korean manufacturer Kia, which built the (Mazda-based) Ford Festiva from 1988–1993, and the Ford Aspire from 1994–1997 for export to the United States, but later sold their interest to Hyundai (which also manufactured the Ford Cortina until the 1980s). Kia continued to market the Aspire as the Kia Avella, later replaced by the Rio and once again sold in the US.

Ford's presence in Asia has traditionally been much smaller, confined to Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Taiwan, where Ford has had a joint venture with Lio Ho since the 1970s. Ford began assembly of cars in Thailand in 1960, but withdrew from the country in 1976, and did not return until 1995, when it formed a joint venture with Mazda called Auto Alliance.

Ford India began production in 1998 with its Ford Escort model, which was later replaced by locally produced Ford Ikon in 2001. It has since added Fusion, Fiesta, Mondeo and Endeavour to its product line.

On March 9, 2010, Ford Motor Co. launched its first made-for-India compact car. Starting at 349,900 ($7,690), the Figo is Ford's first car designed and priced for the mass Indian market.

On July 28, 2011 Ford India signs MoU with the State of Gujarat to build assembly and engine plant in Sanand and will invest approximately US$1 billion on a 460-acre site.

South America

In South America, Ford has had to face protectionist government measures in each country, with the result that it built different models in different countries, without particular regard to rationalization or economy of scale inherent to producing and sharing similar vehicles between the nations. In many cases, new vehicles in a country were based on those of the other manufacturers it had entered into production agreements with, or whose factories it had acquired. For example, the Corcel and Del Rey in Brazil were originally based on Renault vehicles.

In 1987, Ford of Brasil and Ford of Argentina merged its operations with those of Volkswagen to form a company called Autolatina, with which it shared models. Sales figures and profitability were disappointing, and Autolatina was dissolved in 1995. With the advent of Mercosur, the regional common market, Ford was finally able to rationalize its product line-ups in those countries. Consequently, the Ford Fiesta and Ford EcoSport are only built in Brazil, and the Ford Focus only built in Argentina, with each plant exporting in large volumes to the neighboring countries. Models like the Ford Mondeo from Europe could now be imported completely built up. Ford of Brazil produces a pick-up truck version of the Fiesta, the Courier, which is also produced in South Africa as the Ford Bantam in right hand drive versions.

Africa and Middle East

In Africa, Ford's market presence has traditionally been strongest in South Africa and neighbouring countries, with only trucks being sold elsewhere on the continent. Ford in South Africa began by importing kits from Canada to be assembled at its Port Elizabeth facility. Later Ford sourced its models from the UK and Australia, with local versions of the Ford Cortina including the XR6, with a 3.0 V6 engine, and a Cortina-based 'bakkie' or pick-up, which was exported to the UK. In the mid-1980s Ford merged with a rival company, owned by Anglo American, to form the South African Motor Corporation (Samcor).

Following international condemnation of apartheid, Ford divested from South Africa in 1988, and sold its stake in Samcor, although it licensed the use of its brand name to the company. Samcor began to assemble Mazdas as well, which affected its product line-up, and saw the European Fords like the Escort and Sierra replaced by the Mazda-based Laser and Telstar. Ford bought a 45 per cent stake in Samcor following the demise of apartheid in 1994, and this later became, once again, a wholly owned subsidiary, the Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa. Ford now sells a local sedan version of the Fiesta (also built in India and Mexico), and the Focus. The Falcon model from Australia was also sold in South Africa, but was dropped in 2003, while the Mondeo, after briefly being assembled locally, was dropped in 2005.

Ford's market presence in the Middle East has traditionally been even smaller, partly due to previous Arab boycotts of companies dealing with Israel. Ford and Lincoln vehicles are currently marketed in ten countries in the region. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE are the biggest markets. Ford also established itself in Egypt in 1926, but faced an uphill battle during the 1950s due to the hostile nationalist business environment. Ford's distributor in Saudi Arabia announced in February 2003 that it had sold 100,000 Ford and Lincoln vehicles since commencing sales in November 1986. Half of the Ford/Lincoln vehicles sold in that country were Ford Crown Victorias. In 2004, Ford sold 30,000 units in the region, falling far short of General Motors' 88,852 units and Nissan Motors' 75,000 units.

Environmental initiatives

Ford announced in late 2008 July that it will bring six of its more fuel-efficient European models to the U.S.

Compressed natural gas

The alternative fossil fuel vehicles, such as some versions of the Crown Victoria especially in fleet and taxi service, operate on compressed natural gas—or CNG. Some CNG vehicles have dual fuel tanks – one for gasoline, the other for CNG – the same engine can operate on either fuel via a selector switch.

Flexible fuel vehicles

Flexible fuel vehicles are designed to operate smoothly using a wide range of available ethanol fuel mixtures—from pure gasoline, to bioethanol-gasoline blends such as E85 (85% ethanol and 15% gasoline) or E100 (neat hydrous ethanol) in Brazil. Part of the challenge of successful marketing alternative and flexible fuel vehicles in the U.S., is the general lack of establishment of sufficient fueling stations, which would be essential for these vehicles to be attractive to a wide range of consumers. Significant efforts to ramp up production and distribution of E85 fuels are underway and expanding.

Ford is also planning to produce 250,000 E85-capable vehicles a year in the US, adding to some 1.6 million already sold in the last 10 years.

Current Ford E85 Flexible Fuel Vehicles sold in North America and Europe are:

Ford F-150

Ford Crown Victoria

Ford Focus

Ford C-MAX

Ford Mondeo

Ford S-MAX

Ford Galaxy

Ford Taurus

Ford Ranger

Ford Explorer

Ford Expedition and EL/Max

Mercury Grand Marquis

Lincoln Town Car

Ford Fusion

Current Ford E100 Flex sold in the Brazilian market are:

Courier

Ford EcoSport

Ford Fiesta

Ford Focus

Ford Ka

Electric vehicles

Ford Motor Co. expects electric vehicles will represent a "major portion" of its lineup a decade from now as the automaker breaks away from a recent reliance on pickup trucks and SUVs. The stakes are high because Ford's stepped-up investment is coming at a time when the U.S. government is demanding steep increases in fuel economy and has put money forward to help automakers adopt new fuel-saving technologies.

Ford Motor Co. will partner with Coulomb Technologies to provide nearly 5,000 free in-home charging stations for some of the automaker's first electric vehicle customers, under the Ford Blue Oval ChargePoint Program.

Hybrid electric vehicles

In 2004 both Ford and Toyota agreed on a patent sharing accord which granted Ford access to certain hybrid technology patented by Toyota, in exchange Ford licensed Toyota some of their own patents.

Ford did improve fuel efficiency during 2005, with the introduction of the Hybrid-Electric Escape. With this vehicle, Ford was third to the automotive market with a hybrid electric vehicle and the first hybrid electric SUV to market. This was also the first hybrid electric vehicle with a flexible fuel capability to run on E85. The Escape's platform mate Mercury Mariner was also available with the hybrid-electric system in the 2006 model year—a full year ahead of schedule. The similar Mazda Tribute will also receive a hybrid-electric powertrain option, along with many other vehicles in the Ford vehicle line.

In 2005 Ford announced its goal to make 250,000 hybrids a year by 2010, but by mid-2006 announced that it would not meet that goal, due to excessively high costs and the lack of sufficient supplies of the hybrid-electric batteries and drivetrain system components. Instead, Ford has committed to accelerating development of next-generation hybrid-electric power plants in Britain, in collaboration with Volvo. This engineering study is expected to yield more than 100 new hybrid-electric vehicle models and derivatives. There are also plans for hybrid versions of the Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX.

Ford announced on 2007-07-09 that it will team up with Southern California Edison (SCE) to examine the future of plug-in hybrids in terms of how home and vehicle energy systems will work with the electrical grid. Under the multi-million-dollar, multi-year project, Ford will convert a demonstration fleet of Ford Escape Hybrids into plug-in hybrids, and SCE will evaluate how the vehicles might interact with the home and the utility's electrical grid. Some of the vehicles will be evaluated "in typical customer settings", according to Ford.

On June 12, 2008 USDOE expanded its own fleet of alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles with the addition of a Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid Flex-Fuel Vehicle. The vehicle is equipped with a lithium-ion battery supplied by Johnson Controls-Saft that stores enough electric energy to drive up to at speeds of up to .

In March 2009 Ford launched to the U.S. market the Ford Fusion Hybrid and the Mercury Milan Hybrid, both as 2010 models.

Ford is going to introduce a plug-in hybrid to challenge the Chevy Volt by 2012 and more charge-maintaining hybrids (traditional gas-electric hybrids), beginning with one in 2011.

Current and planned Ford hybrid electric vehicles:

2004– Ford Escape Hybrid

2006– Mercury Mariner

2009– Ford Fusion Hybrid/Mercury Milan

2009/10– Ford Edge/Lincoln MKX

All-electric vehicles

Ford ended the Think City experiment and ordered all the cars repossessed and destroyed, even as many of the people leasing them begged to be able to buy the cars from Ford. After outcry from the lessees and activists in the US and Norway, Ford returned the cars to Norway for sale.

Bill Ford was one of the first top industry executives to make regular use of an battery electric vehicle, a Ford Ranger EV, while the company contracted with the United States Postal Service to deliver electric postal vans based on the Ranger EV platform..Ford discontinued a line of electric Ranger pickup trucks and ordered them destroyed, though it reversed in January 2005, after environmentalist protest.

The North American Focus EV is based on next generation Focus fuel vehicle, converted to an electric propulsion system as a Production EV by Magna International, and is planned to be launched in late 2011. Ford plans to have 10,000 Focus EVs on the road beginning in late 2011 in partnership with Magna International and it will be a global vehicle that will be sold in the three key markets of North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific. The Focus EV has a maximum range of about 160 kilometers or 100 miles, and a top speed of about 120+ kilometers or 75+ miles per hour.

Current and planned Ford electric vehicles:

2010 All-electric Transit Connect

2011 All-electric small car in late 2011 (Ford Focus EV).

2013 C-MAX Energi coming fall 2012

Ford battery electric vehicle (BEV) demonstrators are included in a British project that is part of the UK government's zero carbon vehicle fleet of Focus BEVs. The BEV demonstrator fleet is being developed partly with public funding from the government's Technology Strategy Board (TSB), which promotes innovative industry-led projects that reduce CO2 while benefiting the UK's transport system.

Hydrogen

Ford also continues to study Fuel Cell-powered electric powertrains, and has demonstrated hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine technologies, as well as developing the next-generation hybrid-electric systems. Compared with conventional vehicles, hybrid vehicles and/or fuel cell vehicles decrease air pollution emissions as well as sound levels, with favorable impacts upon respiratory health and decrease of noise health effects.

Ford has launched the production of hydrogen-powered shuttle buses, using hydrogen instead of gasoline in a standard internal combustion engine, for use at airports and convention centers. At the 2006 Greater Los Angeles Auto Show, Ford showcased a hydrogen fuel cell version of its Explorer SUV. The Fuel cell Explorer has a combined output of . It has a large hydrogen storage tank which is situated in the center of the car taking the original place of the conventional model's automatic transmission. The centered position of the tank assists the vehicle reach a notable range of , the farthest for a fuel cell vehicle so far. The fuel cell Explorer the first in a series of prototypes partly funded by the United States Department of Energy to expand efforts to determine the feasibility of hydrogen- powered vehicles. The fuel cell Explorer is one of several vehicles with green technology being featured at the L.A. show, including the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid, PZEV emissions compliant Fusion and Focus models and a 2008 Ford F-Series Super Duty outfitted with Ford's clean diesel technology.

Increased fuel efficiency

Ford Motor Company announced it will accelerate its plans to produce more fuel-efficient cars, changing both its North American manufacturing plans and its lineup of vehicles available in the United States. In terms of North American manufacturing, the company will convert three existing truck and sport utility vehicle (SUV) plants for small car production, with the first conversion starting in December at its Michigan Truck Plant. In addition, Ford's assembly plants near Mexico City, Mexico, and in Louisville, Kentucky, will convert from pickups and SUVs to small cars, including the Ford Fiesta, by 2011. Ford will also introduce to North America six of its European small vehicles, including two versions of the Ford Fiesta, by the end of 2012. And last but not least, Ford is stepping up its production of fuel-efficient "EcoBoost" V-6 and four-cylinder engines, while increasing its production of hybrid vehicles. See the Ford press release.

Ford of Europe developed the ECOnetic programme to address the market and legislative need for higher fuel efficiency and lower CO2 emissions. As opposed to the hybrid engine technology used in competitor products such as the Toyota Prius, ECOnetic improves existing technology. Using lower consuming Duratorq TDCi diesel engines, and based on a combination of improved aerodynamics, lower resistance and improved efficiency, the Ford Fiesta is currently the lowest emitting mass-produced car in Europe, while the 2012 Ford Focus ECOnetic will have better fuel consumption that the Prius or the Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion. ECOnetic is not presently planned to be sold in North Americam due to current perceived lower consumer demand.

Ford has challenged University teams to create a vehicle that is simple, durable, lightweight and come equipped with a base target price of only $7,000 The students from Aachen University created the "2015 Ford Model T".

In 2000, under the leadership of the current Ford chairman, William Clay Ford, the Company announced a planned 25 percent improvement in the average mileage of its light truck fleet – including its popular SUVs – to be completed by the 2005 calendar year. In 2003, Ford announced that competitive market conditions and technological and cost challenges would prevent the company from achieving this goal.

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts have, however, listed Ford as the seventh-worst corporate producer of air pollution, primarily because of the manganese compounds, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, and glycol ethers released from its casting, truck, and assembly plants. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has linked Ford to 54 Superfund toxic waste sites, twelve of which have been cleaned up and deleted from the list.

For the 2007 model year, Ford had thirteen U.S. models that achieve 30 miles per gallon or better (based on the highway fuel economy estimates of the EPA and several of Ford's vehicles were recognized in the EPA and Department of Energy Fuel Economy Guide for best-in-class fuel economy. Ford claimed to have eliminated nearly three million pounds of smog-forming emissions from their U.S. cars and light trucks over the 2004 to 2006 model years.

PC Power Management

On March 2010, Ford announced its PC Power Management system which it developed with NightWatchman software from 1E. The company is expected to save $1.2m on power cost and reduce carbon footprint by an estimated 16,000 to 25,000 metric tons annually when the system is fully implemented.

PC power management is being rolled out to all Ford computer users in US this month and it will be used in Ford operations around the world later in the year. Computers with this power profile enabled will monitor its usage patterns and decides when it can be turned off. PC user will be alerted of the approaching power down time and given the opportunity to delay it.

According to company reduction in carbon footprint and power cost will be achieved by developing 'Power Profiles' for every PC in the company.

Auto racing

Stock car racing

Ford is one of four manufacturers in NASCAR's three major series: Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series, and Camping World Truck Series. Major teams include Roush Fenway Racing and Yates Racing and Richard Petty Motorsports. Ford is represented by the mid-size Fusion in the Sprint Cup, the Mustang in the Nationwide Series, and by the F-150 in the Camping World Truck Series. Some of the most successful NASCAR Fords were the aerodynamic fastback Ford Torino and Mercury Montegos, and the aero-era Ford Thunderbirds. The Ford nameplate has won eight manufacturer's championships in Sprint Cup, while Mercury has won one. The Ford Fusion is also used in the ARCA Remax Series.

Formula One

Ford was heavily involved in Formula One for many years, and supplied engines to a large number of teams from 1967 until 2004. These engines were designed and manufactured by Cosworth, the racing division that was owned by Ford from 1998 to 2004. Ford-badged engines won 176 Grands Prix between 1967 and 2003 for teams such as Team Lotus and McLaren. Ford entered Formula One as a constructor in 2000 under the Jaguar Racing name, after buying the Stewart Grand Prix team which had been its primary 'works' team in the series since 1997. Jaguar achieved little success in Formula One, and after a turbulent five seasons, Ford withdrew from the category after the 2004 season, selling both Jaguar Racing (which became Red Bull Racing) and Cosworth (to Gerald Forsythe and Kevin Kalkhoven).

Rally

Ford has a long history in rallying and has been active in the World Rally Championship since the beginning of the world championship, the 1973 season. Ford took the 1979 manufacturers' title with Hannu Mikkola, Björn Waldegård and Ari Vatanen driving the Ford Escort RS1800. In the Group B era, Ford achieved success with Ford RS200. Since the 1999 season, Ford has used various versions of the Ford Focus WRC to much success. In the 2006 season, BP-Ford World Rally Team secured Ford its second manufacturers' title, with the Focus RS WRC 06 built by M-Sport and driven by ''Flying Finns'' Marcus Grönholm and Mikko Hirvonen. Continuing with Grönholm and Hirvonen, Ford successfully defended the manufacturers' world championship in the 2007 season. Ford is the only manufacturer to score in the points for 92 consecutive races; since the 2002 season opener Monte Carlo Rally.

Sports cars

Ford sports cars have been visible in the world of sports car racing since 1964. Most notably the GT40 won the 24 Hours of Le Mans four times in the 1960s and is the only American car to ever win overall at this prestigious event. Ford also won the 1968 International Championship for Makes with the GT40, which still stands today as one of the all-time greatest racing cars. Swiss team Matech GT Racing, in collaboration with Ford Racing, opened a new chapter with the Ford GT, winning the Teams title in the 2008 FIA GT3 European Championship.

The Ford Mustang has arguably been Ford's most successful sports car. Jerry Titus won the 1965 SCCA Pro B National Championship with a Mustang and the model went on to earn Ford the SCCA Trans-Am Championship title in both 1966 and 1967. Ford won the Trans-Am Championship again in 1970 with Parnelli Jones and George Folmer driving Boss 302 Mustangs for Bud Moore Engineering. Ford took the 1985 and 1986 IMSA GTO Championship with Mustangs driven by John Jones and Scott Pruett before returning to Trans-Am glory with a championship in 1989 with Dorsey Schroeder. Ford dominated Trans-Am in the 1990s with Tommy Kendal winning championships in 1993, 1995, 1996, and 1997 with Paul Gentilozi adding yet another title in 1999. In 2005 the Ford Mustang FR500C took the championship in the Rolex Koni Challenge Series in its first year on the circuit. In 2007 Ford added a victory in the GT4 European Championship. 2008 was the first year of the Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup, a series which pits a full field of identical factory built Ford Mustang race cars against each other. Also in 2008, Ford won the manufacturers championship in the Koni Challenge Series and HyperSport drivers Joe Foster and Steve Maxwell won the drivers title in a Mustang GT.

Touring cars

Ford has campaigned touring cars such as the Focus, Falcon, and Contour/Mondeo and the Sierra Cosworth in many different series throughout the years. Notably, Mondeo drivers finished 1,2,3 in the 2000 British Touring Car Championship and Falcon drivers placed 1,2,3 in the 2005 V8 Supercar Championship Series.

Other

In the Indianapolis 500, Ford powered IndyCars won 17 times between 1965 and 1996. Ford has also branched out into drifting with the introduction of the new model Mustang. Most noticeable is the Turquoise and Blue Falken Tires Mustang driven by Vaughn Gittin Jr, A.K.A. "JR". with 750 RWHP (Rear Wheel Horsepower). In drag racing, John Force Racing drivers John Force, Tony Pedregon, and Robert Hight have piloted Ford Mustang Funny Cars to several NHRA titles in recent seasons. Teammates Tim Wilkerson and Bob Tasca III also drive Mustangs in Funny Car. Formula Ford, a formula for single-seater cars without wings and originally on road tires were conceived in 1966 in the UK as an entry-level formula for racing drivers. Many of today's racing drivers started their car racing careers in this category.

Ford trucks

Ford has produced trucks since 1908. Countries where Ford commercial vehicles are or were made include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada (badged Mercury too), France, Germany, India, Netherlands, Philippines, Spain (badged Ebro too), Turkey, UK (badged also Fordson and Thames) and USA.

From the 1940s to late 1970s Ford's Ford F-Series were used as the base for light trucks for the North American market.

Most of these ventures are now extinct. The European one that lasted longest was the lorries arm of Ford of Britain, which was eventually sold to Iveco group in 1986, and whose last significant models were the Transcontinental and the Cargo.

In the United States, Ford's heavy trucks division (Classes 7 and 8) was sold in 1997 to Freightliner Trucks, which rebranded the lineup as Sterling. Freightliner is in the process of discontinuing this line.

Line of heavy trucks made by Ford for the North American market:

Ford F-650 – joint venture model from 2000 to present

Ford L9000 – last model year 1999

Ford LNT9000 – short nose tandem axle from 1970s to 1997

Ford LT9000 – tandem axle with last model year 1997

Ford FT900 – until 1998

Ford LT8000 – last model year 1998

Ford L7000 – last model year 1996

Ford continues to manufacture medium duty trucks under the F-650 and F-750 badges. In 2001, the company entered into a joint venture with Navistar International to produce medium duty commercial trucks. The first new model from the new corporation, known as Blue Diamond Truck Company LLC, was the 2006 model year LCF, the first Ford branded cab-over-engine design in the United States since Freightliner's acquisition of the Cargo in the mid-1990s.. The LCF was discontinued in 2009 and Ford's 2011 medium-duty commercial offerings are limited to the two F-Series.

In 1999 the end of the F800 meant Ford was not producing in any F-series heavy truck chassis.

In Europe, Ford manufactures the Ford Transit jumbo van which is classed as a Large Goods Vehicle and has a payload of up to 2,265 kg, there are options of a panel van, pickup or chassis cab. The Ford Transit is also available as a light van called the Ford Transit Connect and the Ford Ranger pickup is available.

Bus products

Ford manufactured complete buses in the company's early history, but today the role of the company has changed to that of a second stage manufacturer. In North America, the E-Series is still used as a chassis for small school buses and the F-650 is used in commercial bus markets. In the 1980s and 1990s, the medium-duty B700 was a popular chassis used by school bus body manufacturers (Thomas Built, Ward, Blue Bird, etc...), but Ford lost its market share due to industry contraction and agreements between body manufacturers. Older bus models included:

Prior to 1939, For buses were based on truck bodies:

Model B – 1930s

Model T – 1920s

F-105 school bus

During World War II Ford manufactured Ford Transit bus, a series of small transit buses with bodies built by second party:

09-B/19-B City transit bus – 1939–1941

19-B/29-B City transit bus – 1941–1942

49-B/79-B City transit bus – 1944–1947

69-B City transit bus – 1946–1947

29-B City transit bus – 1946–1947

72-T transit bus – 1944–1945

After 1946 the Transit City bus was sold as ''Universal Bus'' with the roof changed from fabric/wood to all metal:

79-B Universal transit bus – 1946–1947

Succeeding the Ford Transit bus was the Ford 8M buses:

8MB transit bus – with Wayne Works 1948–?

Following World War II and from 1950s onwards Ford lost out to General Motors. This lead to the end of transit buses for Ford in North America.

B500 or B-series – 1950-1990s based on Ford F-series truck chassis used by school bus body manufacturers

In Europe, Ford manufactures the Ford Transit Minibus which is classed in Europe as a Passenger Carrying Vehicle and there are options of 12, 15 or 17 seaters. In the past European models included:

EM

N-138

D series buses (Australia)

Ford tractors

The "Henry Ford and Son Company" began making Fordson tractors in Henry's hometown of Springwells (later part of Dearborn, Michigan from 1907 to 1928, from 1919 to 1932, at Cork, Ireland and 1933–1964 at Dagenham, England, later transferred to Basildon. They were also produced in Leningrad beginning in 1924.

In 1986, Ford expanded its tractor business when it purchased the Sperry-New Holland skid-steer loader and hay baler, hay tools and implement company from Sperry Corporation and formed Ford-New Holland which bought out Versatile tractors in 1988. This company was bought by Fiat in 1993 and the name changed from Ford New Holland to New Holland. New Holland is now part of CNH Global.

History

The Ford Motor Company was launched in a converted factory in 1903 with $28,000 in cash from twelve investors, most notably John and Horace Dodge (who would later found their own car company). Later Ford realized it would be better if he manufactured all of his company's automotive parts himself instead of using parts from aftermarket sources which lead to the production of the assembly line 1908. Henry's first attempt under his name was the Henry Ford Company on November 3, 1901, which became the Cadillac Motor Company on August 22, 1902. In 1908 Ford During its early years, the company produced just a few cars a day at its factory on Mack Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. Groups of two or three men worked on each car from components made to order by other companies. Henry Ford was 40 years old when he founded the Ford Motor Company, which would go on to become one of the world's largest and most profitable companies, as well as being one to survive the Great Depression. As one of the largest family-controlled companies in the world, the Ford Motor Company has been in continuous family control for over 100 years.

See also

Detroit Automobile Company

Dodge v. Ford Motor Company

Firestone and Ford tire controversy

Ford F-Series

Ford Mustang

Ford Racing

Ford V-8

Fordson tractor

The Henry Ford

Henry Ford Company

History of Ford Motor Company

List of Ford vehicles

List of Ford factories

List of Ford engines

List of Ford platforms

List of Ford VIN codes

List of CEOs of Ford Motor Company

Pay on production

Plug-in hybrid

Smith Electric Vehicles

Southern California Edison

Soybean Car

Special Vehicle Team (SVT)

Special Vehicle Operations (SVO)

United States Council for Automotive Research

Notes

References and further reading

External links

Official gateway to global websites

The Ford Story

Ford on Facebook

Ford on Twitter

Category:Article Feedback Pilot Category:All articles with unsourced statements Category:Car manufacturers of the United States Ford Category:Companies established in 1903 Category:Companies based in Wayne County, Michigan Category:Emergency services equipment makers Category:Family businesses Category:Lawn and garden tractors Category:Motor vehicle battery manufacturers Category:Motor vehicle manufacturers based in Michigan Category:Tractor manufacturers of the United States Category:Truck manufacturers Category:Dearborn, Michigan Category:Electric vehicle manufacturers Category:British Royal Warrant holders Category:Motor vehicle manufacturers of the United States Category:1903 establishments in the United States

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name	Lita Ford
background	solo_singer
alias	Lita, Lita Ford
birth name	Carmelita Rossana Ford
born	September 18, 1958 London, England
instrument	Vocals, guitar
genre	Heavy metal, hard rock
occupation	Musician, songwriter
years active	1976–1995,2008–present
label	Mercury, RCA, JLRG Entertainment
associated acts	The Runaways, Ozzy Osbourne, Nitro
website	Official Site
notable instruments	B.C. Rich Warlock, Gibson Explorer }}

Lita Ford (born 19 September 1958) is a British-born, American rock musician and singer who was the lead guitarist for The Runaways and achieved popularity for her solo career between the 1980s and late 2000s.

Early life

Lita Ford was born as Carlita Fordson to a British father and an Italian mother in London, England. She moved with her family to the United States at the age of 4 and began playing the guitar at the age of 11. Her vocal range is mezzo-soprano.

In 1975 at the age of 16 she joined the all-female rock band The Runaways, for whom she played lead guitar. They would score a record deal and have their first album released in 1976.

The Runaways

It was not long before the all-girl formation caught the eye of the media. Lita Ford's guitar skills made her a driving force in the band and a permanent member from her arrival to the band's eventual break-up.

In 1979, disagreements were erupting within the band, who had since parted ways with both producer Kim Fowley and lead singer Cherie Currie. Rhythm guitarist Joan Jett wanted the band to shift more towards Ramones-influenced punk music while Ford and drummer Sandy West wanted to continue playing hard rock-oriented songs. With neither side being able to compromise, the band finally broke up that year.

By the time Ford returned again, the lighter pop-metal she had long favoured had broken through to mainstream audiences, which set the stage for her most commercially successful album, 1988's ''Lita''. With Sharon Osbourne as her manager, and again produced by herself, the album featured four commercial hits, including "Kiss Me Deadly", "Back To The Cave", "Close My Eyes Forever", and "Falling In And Out Of Love" (co-written with Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe). The ballad "Close My Eyes Forever", a duet with Sharon's husband Ozzy Osbourne, was her only Top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hit, reaching #8.

Her next release was called ''Stiletto''. It featured the singles "Hungry" and "Lisa" (the second was dedicated to her mother). However this album was not as successful as ''Dancin' On The Edge'' and ''Lita''.

Ford's next release was ''Dangerous Curves'', which featured her last charting single "Shot Of Poison". Ford's last release would be with ZYX Records and would be titled ''Black''. It failed to repeat the success of 1991's ''Dangerous Curves''.

During her solo years, she was an endorser of B.C. Rich guitars and used Warlock, Eagle, Mockingbird and Bich single and double-neck models.

Ford appears in the 1992 film ''Highway to Hell'' as 'The Hitchhiker'. Ford was also asked by VH-1 to be in the cast of ''The Surreal Life'' for its 7th season, in 2007. She declined.

Return to stage, new album and tour 2008-2009

In June 2008, Ford and her new solo band played several warm-up gigs prior to Rocklahoma under the name ''Kiss Me Deadly'' in the New York City area.

In June 2009, she began touring the US and Europe, with a new line-up consisting of Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal (Guns N' Roses guitarist, 2006–present) on guitar, Dennis Leeflang (Bumblefoot drummer) and PJ Farley on bass (Trixter, Ra) and Michael T. Ross (Angel/XYZ).

Ford released a new album ''Wicked Wonderland'' on 6 October 2009 via JLRG Entertainment.

In an interview with ''ExclusiveMagazine.com'', talking about her new album ''Wicked Wonderland'', Ford revealed the reason why its sound is heavier than the 80s music she once used to put out - "I just wanted to kick ass! I don’t know what’s popular, or the flavour of the day. I just wanted the music to ROCK! The lyrics are very personal and that’s it. I wasn’t going to come out in sandals with hairy armpits!".

Ford contributed her likeness and voice to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 video game, ''Brütal Legend''. She appears as the character Rima, alongside Jack Black, Tim Curry, Ozzy Osbourne, Rob Halford, and Lemmy Kilmister. Her song "Betrayal" is also one of the 100+ songs that appear in the game.

In 2010, Ford was portrayed by actress Scout Taylor-Compton in the movie ''The Runaways''.

In May 2011 Ford promised a "real comeback album" later in the year, saying the last one, ''Wicked Wonderland'', recorded with Jim Gillette (to whom she was married at the time) was too much of a collective project. "A lot of people have told me that they want a real Lita album, and I know what they mean. They are going to get it," she said.

Personal life

Ford married former Nitro singer Jim Gillette in 1994, after knowing each other for two weeks. They have two sons, James and Rocco Gillette. The family moved to Turks and Caicos, where Gillette has a successful building and real estate developing business.

In a February 2011 radio interview, Lita Ford acknowledged that she and Gillette were divorcing. The family was in negotiations for a reality TV show, tentatively titled "The Gillettes: An Extreme American Family" on TLC, but they ended due to the impending divorce. In a March 2011 interview on the Classic Rock Revisited website, Ford claimed that she had taken a business trip to Los Angeles to discuss the reality show with TLC executives, and returned home to find her husband and sons not speaking to her. She also claimed that her sons physically attacked her, egged on by Gillette, which was when she decided to divorce Gillette and cancel the reality series.

Tributes

An achievement in the Xbox 360 version of the video game ''Guitar Hero II'', is titled the "Joan & Lita Award" in tribute to Lita and Joan Jett. It is awarded to two players who can get a 100 note streak in cooperative mode.

Ford lent her appearance and likeness to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 videogame ''Brütal Legend'' as Rima, Queen of the Zaulia beast-riders. In addition, the character Lita Halford was named after both Ford and Rob Halford, who also provides a voice in the game.

Her song, "Close My Eyes Forever", was included in ''Karaoke Revolution: American Idol Encore''.

The song "Kiss Me Deadly" was covered in a compilation album called ''Viva La Internet/Blank CD'' by Reel Big Fish.

Discography

Studio albums

Year	Album details	Peak chart positions							! style="width:35px;"	! style="width:35px;"	! style="width:35px;"	! style="width:35px;"	! style="width:35px;"
		1983	style="text-align:left;"	* Release date: 1983	* Label: [[Mercury Records">Music recording sales certification
! style="width:35px;"	! style="width:35px;"	! style="width:35px;"	! style="width:35px;"	! style="width:35px;"	! style="width:35px;"
1983	style="text-align:left;"	* Release date: 1983	* Label: [[Mercury Records	—	—	—	—	—	—
1984		* Release date: 1984	* Label: Mercury Records	96	66	—	—	—	—
1988	style="text-align:left;"	* Release date: February 1988	* Label: RCA Records	58	29	—	45	—	—		Recording Industry Association of America>US: Platinum	Canadian Recording Industry Association>CAN: Gold
1990	style="text-align:left;"	* Release date: 1990	* Label: Spitfire Records	66	52	—	—	36	26
1991	style="text-align:left;"	* Release date: October 1991	* Label: Spitfire Records	51	132	—	—	—	—
1995	style="text-align:left;"	* Release date: February 14, 1995	* Label: ZYX Records	—	—	—	—	—	—
2009		* Release date: October 6, 2009	* Label: JLRG Entertainment	—	—	38	—	—	—

Live albums

''Greatest Hits Live!'' (2000)

Compilation albums

''The Best of Lita Ford'' (1992)

''Greatest Hits'' (1999)

''Platinum and Gold Collection - The Best of Lita Ford'' (2004)

Other appearances

" Herman's Head Season 2 Episode 24 "Love Me Two Timer" May 2, 1993 as herself

"I'll Be Home for Christmas" with Twisted Sister on ''A Twisted Christmas'' (2006)

"Brütal Legend" Video Game (2009)

" Big Time Rush Big Time Moms Mothers Day Special 2011, appearing as herself

Singles

Year	Single	Peak chart positions					Album
		! style="width:35px;"	! style="width:35px;"	! style="width:35px;"	! style="width:35px;"	! style="width:35px;"
		—	—	—	—	—
	—	—	—	—	—
		—	—	—	—	—
	—	—	—	94	—
		12	40	21	75	—
	—	22	—	—	—
		8	25	16	47	14		US">Music recording sales certification	Album
! style="width:35px;"	! style="width:35px;"	! style="width:35px;"	! style="width:35px;"	! style="width:35px;"
		—	—	—	—	—
	—	—	—	—	—
		—	—	—	—	—
	—	—	—	94	—
		12	40	21	75	—
	—	22	—	—	—
		8	25	16	47	14		US: Gold
	—	37	—	—	—
		98	14	—	76	—
	—	—	—	—	—
1991		45	21	—	63	—
		—	—	—	—	—
	—	—	—	—	—
1995		—	—	—	—	—
2009		—	—	—	—	—

Tours

1981 - ''Queens of Rock Tour'' with Joan Jett and Sandy West

1982 - ''Rulers of Metal Tour'' with Black Sabbath

1983 - ''Out For Blood Tour'' with Scandal, Wes Luthor, and Tony Schladora

1984 - ''Dressed To Kill Tour'' with Anthrax, The Johnson Brothers Band, Metal Mania

1985 - ''South and Central America Tour'' with Soundgarden

1986 - ''Wild Tour'' with several local bands opening at different venues

1986 - ''Metal Rulz Tour'' with Poison, Mötley Crüe, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Ozzy Osbourne.

1988 - ''Open Up and Say . . . Ahh! Tour'' with Poison, Britny Fox.

2009 - ''American Soldier Tour'' with Queensryche

References

External links

Sleaze Roxx 2009 interview

RMAX International Magazine interview

Lita Ford at Legacy Recordings

Lita Ford Interview at UnRatedMagazine.com, June 2009

Category:1958 births Category:Living people Category:American female singers Category:American female guitarists Category:American heavy metal guitarists Category:American heavy metal singers Category:American mezzo-sopranos Category:Female heavy metal singers Category:Glam metal musicians Category:People from London Category:British expatriates in the United States Category:English people of Italian descent Category:American people of Italian descent Category:American people of English descent Category:Lead guitarists Category:The Runaways members

bg:Лита Форд cs:Lita Ford de:Lita Ford et:Lita Ford eml:Lita Ford es:Lita Ford fa:لیتا فورد fr:Lita Ford it:Lita Ford mk:Лита Форд ja:リタ・フォード no:Lita Ford pl:Lita Ford pt:Lita Ford ru:Форд, Лита sk:Lita Ford fi:Lita Ford sv:Lita Ford

birth date	July 13, 1942
birth place	Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
occupation	Actor, producer
years active	1963–present
spouse	Mary Marquardt(1964–1979; divorced)Melissa Mathison(1983–2004; divorced)Calista Flockhart (2010–present)
website	}}

Harrison Ford (born July 13, 1942) is an American film actor and producer. He is famous for his performances as Han Solo in the original ''Star Wars'' trilogy and as the title character of the ''Indiana Jones'' film series. Ford is also known for his roles as Rick Deckard in ''Blade Runner'', John Book in ''Witness'' and Jack Ryan in ''Patriot Games'' and ''Clear and Present Danger''. His four-decade career also includes roles in several other Hollywood blockbusters, including ''Presumed Innocent'', ''The Fugitive'', ''Air Force One'', and ''What Lies Beneath''. At one point, three of the top five box-office hits of all time included one of his roles. Five of his films have been inducted into the National Film Registry.

In 1997, Ford was ranked No.1 in ''Empire'' "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. , the United States domestic box office grosses of Ford's films total almost US$3.4 billion, with worldwide grosses surpassing $6 billion, making Ford the third highest grossing U.S. domestic box-office star. Ford is the husband of actress Calista Flockhart.

Early life

Ford was born July 13, 1942, at Chicago, Illinois' Swedish Covenant Hospital. His mother, Dorothy (née Dora Nidelman), was a homemaker and former radio actress, and his father, Christopher Ford (born John William Ford), was an advertising executive and a former actor. A younger brother, Terence, was born in 1945. Ford's paternal grandparents, John Fitzgerald Ford and Florence Veronica Niehaus, were of Irish Catholic and German descent, respectively. Ford's maternal grandparents, Harry Nidelman and Anna Lifschutz, were Jewish immigrants from Minsk, Belarus (at that time a part of the Russian Empire). When asked in which religion he and his brother were raised, Ford has jokingly responded, "Democrat," "to be liberals of every stripe". He has also said that he feels "Irish as a person, but I feel Jewish as an actor."

Ford was active in the Boy Scouts of America, and achieved its second-highest rank, Life Scout. He worked at a scout camp, Napowan Adventure Base, as a counselor for the Reptile Study merit badge. Because of this, he and Eagle Scout director Steven Spielberg later decided to depict the young Indiana Jones as a Life Scout in the film ''Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade''. They also jokingly reversed Ford's knowledge of reptiles into Jones' fear of snakes.

In 1960, Ford graduated from Maine East High School in Park Ridge, Illinois. His was the first student voice broadcast on his high school's new radio station, WMTH, and he was its first sportscaster during his senior year (1959–1960). He attended Ripon College in Wisconsin, where he was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity. He took a drama class in his junior year, chiefly as a way to meet women. Ford, a self-described "late bloomer," became fascinated with acting.

Early career

In 1964, Ford traveled to Los Angeles, California to apply for a job in radio voice-overs. He did not get it, but stayed in California and eventually signed a $150 a week contract with Columbia Pictures' ''New Talent'' program, playing bit roles in films. His first known part was an uncredited role as a bellhop in ''Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round'' (1966). There is little record of his non-speaking roles (or "extra" work) in film. Ford was at the bottom of the hiring list, having offended producer Jerry Tokovsky after he played a bellboy in the feature. He was told by Tokovsky that when actor Tony Curtis delivered a bag of groceries, he did it like a star. Ford felt his job was to act like a bellboy. Ford managed to secure other roles in movies, such as ''The Long Ride Home'', starring Glenn Ford, George Hamilton and Inger Stevens.

His speaking roles continued next with ''Luv'' (1967), though he was still uncredited. He was finally credited as "Harrison J. Ford" in the 1967 Western film, ''A Time for Killing'', but the "J" did not stand for anything, since he has no middle name. It was added to avoid confusion with a silent film actor named Harrison Ford, who appeared in more than 80 films between 1915 and 1932, and died in 1957. Ford later said that he was unaware of the existence of the earlier Harrison Ford until he came upon a star with his own name on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Ford soon dropped the "J" and worked for Universal Studios, playing minor roles in many television series throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s, including ''Gunsmoke'', ''Ironside'', ''The Virginian'', ''The F.B.I.'', ''Love, American Style'', and ''Kung Fu''. He appeared in the western ''Journey to Shiloh'' (1968) and had an uncredited, non-speaking role in Michelangelo Antonioni's 1970 film ''Zabriskie Point'', as an arrested student protester. Not happy with the roles being offered to him, Ford became a self-taught professional carpenter to support his then-wife and two small sons. While working as a carpenter, he became a stagehand for the popular rock band The Doors. He also built a sun deck for actress Sally Kellerman and a recording studio for director Sérgio Mendes.

He was then hired to build cabinets at the home of director George Lucas, who subsequently cast him in a pivotal supporting role for his film ''American Graffiti'' (1973). Ford's relationship with Lucas affected his career later on. After director Francis Ford Coppola's film ''The Godfather'' was a success, he hired Ford to expand his office and gave him small roles in his next two films, ''The Conversation'' (1974) and ''Apocalypse Now'' (1979).

Milestone franchises

''Star Wars''

Ford's carpentry work eventually landed him his first starring film role. In 1975, George Lucas hired him to read lines for actors auditioning for parts in his space opera ''Star Wars'' (1977). Lucas was eventually won over by Ford's portrayal, and cast him as Han Solo. ''Star Wars'' became one of the most successful movies of all time worldwide, and established Ford as a superstar. He went on to star in the similarly-successful ''Star Wars'' sequels, ''The Empire Strikes Back'' (1980) and ''Return of the Jedi'' (1983), as well as ''The Star Wars Holiday Special'' (1978). Ford wanted Lucas to write in the death of the iconic Han Solo at the end of either sequel, saying, "That would have given the whole film a bottom," but Lucas refused.

''Indiana Jones''

Ford's status as a leading actor was solidified when he starred as Indiana Jones in the George Lucas/Steven Spielberg collaboration ''Raiders of the Lost Ark'' (1981). Though Spielberg was interested in casting Ford in the lead role from the start, Lucas was not, due to having already worked with the actor in ''American Graffiti'' and ''Star Wars'', but he eventually relented after Tom Selleck was unable to accept. Ford reprised the role for the prequel ''Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom'' (1984) and the sequel ''Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade'' (1989). He later returned to his role as Indiana Jones again for a 1993 episode of the television series ''The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles'', and for the fourth film, ''Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull'' (2008).

Other film work

Ford has been in numerous other films, including ''Heroes'' (1977), ''Force 10 from Navarone'' (1978), and ''Hanover Street'' (1979). Ford also co-starred alongside Gene Wilder in the buddy-Western ''The Frisco Kid'' (1979), playing a bank robber with a heart of gold. He then starred as Rick Deckard in Ridley Scott's cult sci-fi classic ''Blade Runner'' (1982), and in a number of dramatic-action films: Peter Weir's ''Witness'' (1985) and ''The Mosquito Coast'' (1986), and Roman Polanski's ''Frantic'' (1988).

The 1990s brought Ford the role of Jack Ryan in Tom Clancy's ''Patriot Games'' (1992) and ''Clear and Present Danger'' (1994), as well as leading roles in Alan Pakula's ''Presumed Innocent'' (1990) and ''The Devil's Own'' (1997), Andrew Davis' ''The Fugitive'' (1993), Sydney Pollack's remake of ''Sabrina'' (1995), and Wolfgang Petersen's ''Air Force One'' (1997). Ford also played straight dramatic roles, including an adulterous husband in both ''Presumed Innocent'' (1990) and ''What Lies Beneath'' (2000), and a recovering amnesiac in Mike Nichols' ''Regarding Henry'' (1991).

Many of Ford's major film roles came to him by default through unusual circumstances: he won the role of Han Solo while reading lines for other actors, was cast as Indiana Jones because Tom Selleck was not available, and took the role of Jack Ryan due to Alec Baldwin's fee demands (Baldwin had previously played the role in ''The Hunt for Red October'').

Recent roles

Starting in the late 1990s, Ford appeared in several critically derided and commercially disappointing movies, including ''Six Days Seven Nights'' (1998), ''Random Hearts'' (1999), ''K-19: The Widowmaker'' (2002), ''Hollywood Homicide'' (2003), ''Firewall'' (2006), and ''Extraordinary Measures'' (2010). One exception was 2000's ''What Lies Beneath,'' which grossed over $155 million in the United States and $300 million worldwide.

In 2004, Ford declined a chance to star in the thriller ''Syriana'', later commenting that "I didn't feel strongly enough about the truth of the material and I think I made a mistake." The role eventually went to George Clooney, who won an Oscar and a Golden Globe for his work. Prior to that, he had passed on a role in another Stephen Gaghan-written role, Robert Wakefield in ''Traffic''. That role went to Michael Douglas.

In 2008, Ford enjoyed success with the release of ''Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull'', another collaboration between George Lucas and Steven Spielberg. The film received generally mixed reviews but was the second highest-grossing film worldwide in 2008. He later said he would like to star in another sequel, "...if it didn't take another 20 years to digest."

Other 2008 work included ''Crossing Over'', directed by Wayne Kramer. In the film, he plays an immigrations officer, working alongside Ashley Judd and Ray Liotta. He also narrated a feature documentary film about the Dalai Lama entitled ''Dalai Lama Renaissance''.

Ford filmed the medical drama ''Extraordinary Measures'' in 2009 in Portland, Oregon. Released January 22, 2010, the film also starred Brendan Fraser and Alan Ruck. Also in 2010, he co-starred in the film ''Morning Glory,'' along with Patrick Wilson, Rachel McAdams, and Diane Keaton.

He has expressed interest in returning to the ''Jack Ryan'' franchise.

In July 2011, Ford starred alongside Daniel Craig and Olivia Wilde in the science fiction Western film ''Cowboys & Aliens''. Ford portrays Colonel Woodrow Dolarhyde, a character who rules the town of Absolution with an iron fist. Ford and executive producer Steven Spielberg did not want to have the character wear a cowboy hat because they were worried that it would remind audiences of the ''Indiana Jones'' films. Ford described his character as a "grumpy old man." To promote the film, Ford made his first appearance at the San Diego Comic-Con International, being led onstage in handcuffs by two security guards, giving the audience the impression that he was being dragged to Comic-Con against his will. However, the actor's arrival involuntarily referred to an actual assault that occurred shortly before the presentation of the film, after which the alleged assailant was taken away in handcuffs. Ford received a long standing ovation as he joined his co-stars, and, apparently surprised by the warm welcome, told the audience, "I just wanted to make a living as an actor. I didn't know about this."

Personal life

Marriages and family

Ford is one of Hollywood's most private actors, guarding his personal life. He has two sons (Benjamin and Willard) with his first wife, Mary Marquardt, as well as two children (Malcolm and Georgia) with his second wife, screenwriter Melissa Mathison.

Ford began dating actress Calista Flockhart after meeting at the 2002 Golden Globes, and together they are parents to her adopted son, Liam. Ford proposed to Flockhart over Valentine's Day weekend in 2009. They were married on June 15, 2010, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where Ford was filming ''Cowboys and Aliens''.

Ford has three grandchildren: Eliel (born 1993), Giuliana (born 1997), and Ethan (born 2000). Son Benjamin owns Ford's Filling Station, a gastro pub in Culver City, California. Son Willard is co-owner of Ford & Ching showroom, as well as Ludwig Clothing company.

Chin and back injury

Ford injured his chin at the age of 20 when his car, a Volvo 544, hit a telephone pole in Northern California; the scar is visible in his films. An explanation for it on film is offered in ''Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade'', when a young Indiana Jones cuts his chin while attempting to crack a whip to ward off a lion. In ''Working Girl'', Ford's character explains that it happened when he passed out and hit his chin on the toilet when a college girlfriend was piercing his ear. In June 1983, at age 40, during the filming of ''Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom'' in London, he herniated a disc in his back, forcing him to fly back to Los Angeles for an operation. He returned six weeks later.

Aviation

Ford is a private pilot of both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, and owns an ranch in Jackson, Wyoming, approximately half of which he has donated as a nature reserve. On several occasions, Ford has personally provided emergency helicopter services at the behest of local authorities, in one instance rescuing a hiker overcome by dehydration.

Ford began flight training in the 1960s at Wild Rose Airport in Wisconsin, flying in a Piper PA-22 Tri-Pacer, but at $15 an hour he was unable to continue the training. In the mid-1990s, he bought a used Gulfstream II and asked one of his pilots, Terry Bender, to give him flying lessons. They started flying a Cessna 182 out of Jackson, Wyoming, later switching to Teterboro, New Jersey, flying a Cessna 206, the aircraft he soloed in.

On October 23, 1999, Harrison Ford was involved in the crash of a Bell 206L4 LongRanger helicopter (N36R). The NTSB accident report states that Ford was piloting the aircraft over the Lake Piru riverbed near Santa Clarita, California, on a routine training flight. While making his second attempt at an autorotation with powered recovery Ford allowed the aircraft's altitude to drop to 150–200 feet before beginning power up. As a result the aircraft was unable to recover power before hitting the ground. The aircraft landed hard and began skidding forward in the loose gravel before one of its skids struck a partially embedded log and flipped onto its side. Neither Ford nor the instructor pilot suffered any injuries though the helicopter was seriously damaged. When asked about the incident by fellow pilot James Lipton in an interview on the TV show ''Inside the Actor's Studio'' Ford replied, "I broke it."

Ford keeps his aircraft at Santa Monica Airport, though the Bell 407 is often kept and flown in Jackson, Wyoming, and has been used by the actor in two mountain rescues during the actor's assigned duty time assisting the Teton County Search and Rescue. On one of the rescues Ford recovered a hiker who had become lost and disoriented. She boarded Ford's Bell 407 and promptly vomited into one of the rescuers' caps, unaware of who the pilot was until much later; "I can't believe I barfed in Harrison Ford's helicopter!" she said later.

Ford flies his de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver (N28S) more than any of his other aircraft, and although he dislikes showing favoritism, he has repeatedly stated that he likes this aircraft and the sound of its Pratt & Whitney R-985 radial engine. Ford first encountered the Beaver while filming ''Six Days Seven Nights'', and soon purchased one. Kenmore Air in Kenmore, Washington, restored Ford's yellow and green Beaver — a junked former U.S. military aircraft — with updated avionics and an upgraded engine. According to Ford, it had been flown in the CIA's Air America operations, and was riddled with bullet holes that had to be patched up. He uses it regularly for impromptu fly-ins at remote airports and bush strips, as well as gatherings with other Beaver owners and pilots.

In March 2004, Ford officially became chairman of the Young Eagles program of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). Ford was asked to take the position by Greg Anderson, Senior Vice President of the EAA at the time, to replace General Charles "Chuck" Yeager who was vacating the post that he had held for many years. Ford at first was hesitant, but later accepted the offer and has made appearances with the Young Eagles at the EAA AirVenture Oshkosh gathering at Oshkosh, Wisconsin for two years. In July 2005, at the gathering in Oshkosh Ford agreed to accept the position for another two years. Ford has flown over 280 children as part of the Young Eagles program, usually in his DHC-2 Beaver, which can seat the actor and five children. Ford is involved with the EAA chapter in Driggs, Idaho, just over the mountains from Jackson, Wyoming.

As of 2009, Ford appears in Web advertisements for General Aviation Serves America, a campaign by advocacy group AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association).

Ford is an Honorary Board Member of the humanitarian aviation organization Wings of Hope.

He has also flown as an invited VIP with the Blue Angels.

Aircraft owned

Current aircraft

de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver (N28S)

Aviat A-1B Husky (N6HY)

Cessna Citation Sovereign (N5GU)

Beechcraft B36TC Bonanza

Cessna 208B Grand Caravan

1929-vintage Waco Taperwing

Bell 407

Previous aircraft

Cessna 525B CitationJet 3

Gulfstream II

Gulfstream IV-SP

Pilatus PC-12

Activism

Environmental causes

Ford sits on the board of directors of Conservation International. He received the Jules Verne Spirit of Nature Award for his ongoing work in preservation of the planet.

In 1993, the arachnologist Norman Platnick named a new species of spider ''Calponia harrisonfordi'', and in 2002, the entomologist Edward O. Wilson named a new ant species ''Pheidole harrisonfordi'' (in recognition of Harrison's work as Vice Chairman of Conservation International).

Since 1992, Ford has lent his voice to a series of public service messages promoting environmental involvement for EarthShare, an American federation of environmental and conservation charities.

Political views

Like his parents, Ford is a lifelong Democrat, and a close friend of former President Bill Clinton.

On September 7, 1995, Ford testified before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee in support of the Dalai Lama and an independent Tibet, and was banned thereafter by the Chinese government from entering Tibet and China. In 2008, he narrated the documentary ''Dalai Lama Renaissance''.

In 2003, he publicly condemned the Iraq War and called for "regime change" in the United States. He also criticized Hollywood for making violent movies, and called for more gun control in the United States. He opposed the recall of Californian Governor Gray Davis, and stated in an interview that replacing Davis with Arnold Schwarzenegger would be a mistake.

Archaeology

Following on his success portraying the archaeologist Indiana Jones, Ford also plays a part in supporting the work of professional archaeologists. He serves as a General Trustee on the Governing Board of the Archaeological Institute of America (AIA), North America's oldest and largest organization devoted to the world of archaeology. Ford assists them in their mission of increasing public awareness of archaeology and preventing looting and the illegal antiquities trade.

Community work

Ford volunteered as a food server. On November 21, 2007, Ford and other celebrities, including Kirk Douglas, Nia Long and Calista Flockhart, helped serve hot meals to the homeless at the annual Thanksgiving feast at the Los Angeles Mission.

Awards

Ford received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor for ''Witness'', for which he also received "Best Actor" BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations. He received the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 2002 Golden Globe Awards and on June 2, 2003, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He has received three additional "Best Actor" Golden Globe nominations for ''The Mosquito Coast'', ''The Fugitive'' and ''Sabrina''.

In 2006, Ford was awarded the Jules Verne Spirit of Nature Award for his work in nature and wildlife preservation. The ceremony took place at the historic Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California.

He received the first ever Hero Award for his many iconic roles, including Han Solo and Indiana Jones, at the 2007 Scream Awards, and in 2008, the Spike TV's Guy's Choice Award for Brass Balls.

Harrison Ford received the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2000.

Filmography

+ Film and television
! Year	! Title	! Role	Notes
1966	''Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round''	Bellhop	uncredited
1966	''The Long Ride Home''		uncredited
1967		Irate Motorist	uncredited
1967	''''	Lt. Shaffer	credited as Harrison J. Ford
1967	''''	Cullen Tindall/Young Rancher	TV series, episodes: "A Bad Place to Die" and "The Modoc Kid"
1967		Tom Stowe	TV series, episode: "The Past is Prologue"
1968	''Journey to Shiloh''	Willie Bill Bearden
1968	''''	Beach Patrol Cop	TV series, episode: "The Teeth of the Barracuda"
1969	''My Friend Tony''		TV series, episode: "The Hazing"
1969	''''	Glen Reverson/Everett Giles	TV series, episodes: "Caesar's Wife" and "Scapegoat"
1969	''Love, American Style''	Roger Crane	TV series, segment "Love and the Former Marriage"
1970		Airport Worker	uncredited
1970	''Getting Straight''	Jake
1970	''''	Carl	TV movie
1971	''Dan August''	Hewett	TV series, episode: "The Manufactured Man"
1972–1973	''Gunsmoke''	Print/Hobey	TV series, episodes: "The Sodbuster" (1972) and "Whelan's Men" (1973)
1973	''American Graffiti''	Bob Falfa
1974		Harrison	TV series, episode: "Crossties"
1974	''''	Martin Stett
1974	''Petrocelli''	Tom Brannigan	TV series, episode: "Edge of Evil"
1975		Frank Crowder	TV movie
1976		Mark Blackwood	TV movie
1977	''''	Paul Winjam	TV movie
1977	''Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope''	Han Solo	Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Actor
1977		Ken Boyd
1978		Lieutenant Colonel Mike Barnsby
1978	''''	Han Solo	TV movie
1979	''Apocalypse Now''	Colonel Lucas
1979		David Halloran
1979	''''	Tommy Lillard
1979	''More American Graffiti''	Bob Falfa	uncredited
1980	''Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back''	Han Solo
1981	''Raiders of the Lost Ark''	Indiana Jones	Saturn Award for Best Actor
1982	''Blade Runner''	Rick Deckard
1983	''Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi''	Han Solo
1984	''Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom''	Indiana Jones	Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Actor
1985		Det. Capt. John Book	Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best ActorNominated—Academy Award for Best ActorNominated—BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading RoleNominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama
1986	''''	Allie Fox	Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama
1988		Dr. Richard Walker
1988	''Working Girl''	Jack Trainer
1989	''Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade''	Indiana Jones	Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Actor
1990		Rusty Sabich
1991	''Regarding Henry''	Henry Turner
1992
1993	''''	Indiana Jones — age 50	TV series, episode: "Young Indiana Jones and the Mystery of the Blues"
1993	''''		Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture DramaNominated—MTV Movie Award for Best Performance - Male
1994		Jack Ryan
1995		Linus Larabee	Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
1997	''''	Tom O'Meara
1997		President James Marshall
1998	''Six Days Seven Nights''	Quinn Harris
1999		Sergeant William 'Dutch' Van Den Broeck
2000	''What Lies Beneath''	Dr. Norman Spencer
2002	''K-19: The Widowmaker''	Alexei Vostrikov
2003	''Hollywood Homicide''	Sgt. Joe Gavilan
2004	''Water to Wine''	Jethro the Bus Driver
2006		Jack Stanfield
2008	''Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull''	Indiana Jones	Nominated—National Movie Awards
2008	''[[Dalai Lama Renaissance''	Narrator	Theatrical documentary
2009		Max Brogan
2009	''Brüno''	Himself	Uncredited cameo
2010	''Extraordinary Measures''	Dr. Robert Stonehill
2010		Mike Pomeroy
2011		Colonel Dolarhyde

See also

Sigma Nu LEADership learning program

References

External links

;Interviews

Category:1942 births Category:Actors from California Category:Actors from Chicago, Illinois Category:American aviators Category:American conservationists Category:American film actors Category:American people of Belarusian-Jewish descent Category:American people of German descent Category:American people of Irish descent Category:American people of Russian-Jewish descent Category:American television actors Category:California Democrats Category:Jewish actors Category:Living people Category:People from Los Angeles, California Category:Personae non gratae

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name	Tennessee Ernie Ford
background	solo_singer
birth name	Ernest Jennings Ford
born	February 13, 1919Bristol, Tennessee, United States
died	October 17, 1991Reston, Virginia, United States
instrument	Vocals, Guitar, violin
genre	Country & Western, Pop, Gospel
occupation	Singer, actor }}

Ernest Jennings Ford (February 13, 1919 – October 17, 1991), better known as Tennessee Ernie Ford, was an American recording artist and television host who enjoyed success in the country and Western, pop, and gospel musical genres. Today, he is best remembered for his hit recording of "Sixteen Tons".

Biography

Early years

Born in Bristol, Tennessee, to Clarence Thomas Ford and Maud Long, Ford began his radio career as an announcer at WOPI-AM in Bristol, Tennessee. In 1939, the young bass-baritone left the station to study classical singing at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music in Ohio. First Lieutenant Ford served in World War II as the bombardier on a B-29 Superfortress flying missions over Japan. After the war, Ford worked at radio stations in San Bernardino and Pasadena, California. In San Bernardino, Ford was hired as a radio announcer. He was assigned to host an early morning country music disc jockey program titled ''Bar Nothin' Ranch Time.'' To differentiate himself, he created the personality of "Tennessee Ernie," a wild, madcap exaggerated hillbilly. He became popular in the area and was soon hired away by Pasadena's KXLA radio.

Ford also did musical tours. The Mayfield Brothers of West Texas, including Smokey Mayfield, Thomas Edd Mayfield, and Herbert Mayfield, were among Ford's warmup bands, having played for him in concerts in Amarillo and Lubbock, Texas, during the late 1940s. At KXLA, Ford continued doing the same show and also joined the cast of Cliffie Stone's popular live KXLA country show ''Dinner Bell Roundup'' as a vocalist while still doing the early morning broadcast. Cliffie Stone, a part-time talent scout for Capitol Records, brought him to the attention of the label. In 1949, while still doing his morning show, he signed a contract with Capitol. He also became a local TV star as the star of Stone's popular Southern California ''Hometown Jamboree'' show. RadiOzark produced 260 15-minute episodes of ''The Tennessee Ernie Show'' on transcription disks for national radio syndication.

He released almost 50 country singles through the early 1950s, several of which made the charts. Many of his early records, including "The Shotgun Boogie", "Blackberry Boogie," and so on were exciting, driving boogie-woogie records featuring accompaniment by the ''Hometown Jamboree'' band which included Jimmy Bryant on lead guitar and pioneer pedal steel guitarist Speedy West. "I'll Never Be Free," a duet pairing Ford with Capitol Records pop singer Kay Starr, became a huge country and pop crossover hit in 1950. A duet with Ella Mae Morse, ''False Hearted Girl'' was a top seller for the Capitol Country and Hillbilly division, and has been evaluated as an early tune.

Ford eventually ended his KXLA morning show and in the early 1950s, moved on from ''Hometown Jamboree.'' He took over from band-leader Kay Kyser as host of the TV version of NBC quiz show ''Kollege of Musical Knowledge'' when it returned briefly in 1954 after a four-year hiatus. He became a household name in the U.S. largely as a result of his hilarious portrayal of the 'country bumpkin,' "Cousin Ernie" on three episodes of ''I Love Lucy''. He called Ricky Ricardo "Cousin Ricky Rickerdo". Most famous was the scene of Cousin Ernie and "The Wicked City Woman" (Lucy). where two of the greatest lines were derived. "You got quite a hitch in your get-a-long", referring to Lucy's swinging of her hips while portraying "The Wicked City Woman". This portrayal as "The Wicked City Woman" was an attempt to scare Cousin Ernie out of the city and Ricky & Lucy's home by "Vamping" (rubbing his head and messing up his hair). Instead of scaring him, Cousin Ernie liked it, and the famous lines "Vamp me some more " was born as a renowned favorite memory of "Cousin Ernie" on "I Love Lucy".

In 1955, Ford recorded "Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier" (which reached number 4 on the country chart) with "Farewell to the Mountains" on side B.

"Sixteen Tons"

right|frame|''Sixteen Tons'' album coverFord scored an unexpected hit on the pop charts in 1955 with his rendition of Merle Travis' "Sixteen Tons", a sparsely arranged coal-miner's lament that Travis wrote in 1946, based on his own family's experience in the mines of Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. Its fatalistic tone contrasted vividly with the sugary pop ballads and rock & roll just starting to dominate the charts at the time:

:''You load sixteen tons, what do you get?'' :''Another day older and deeper in debt.'' :''Saint Peter, don't you call me, 'cause I can't go;'' :''I owe my soul to the company store...''

With a unique clarinet-driven pop arrangement by Ford's musical director, Jack Fascinato, "Sixteen Tons" spent ten weeks at number one on the country charts and eight weeks at number one on the pop charts, and made Ford a crossover star. It became Ford's 'signature song.'

Later years

Ford subsequently helmed his own prime-time variety program, ''The Ford Show'', which ran on NBC television from October 4, 1956, to June 29, 1961. In an ironic play of words, the show was named not after Ernie, but rather, the sponsor—Ford automobiles. ''Ford Theatre,'' an anthology series, had run in the same time slot on NBC in the preceding 1955-1956 season. Ford's program was notable for the inclusion of a religious song at the end of every show; Ford insisted on this despite objections from network officials who feared it might provoke controversy. This became the most popular segment of his show. He earned the nickname "The Ol' Pea-Picker" due to his catch-phrase, "Bless your pea-pickin' heart!" He began using the term during his disc jockey days on KXLA.

In 1956 he released ''Hymns'', his first gospel music album, which remained on ''Billboard's'' Top Album charts for 277 consecutive weeks; his album "Great Gospel Songs" won a Grammy Award in 1964. After the NBC show ended, Ford moved his family to Portola Valley in Northern California. He also owned a cabin near Grandjean, Idaho on the upper South Fork of the Payette River where he would regularly retreat.

A photo of Ford with country singer Hank Thompson and Dallas nightclub owner Jack Ruby appeared in the 1988 book, ''The Ruby-Oswald Affair'', by Alan Adelson.

From 1962-65, Ford hosted a daytime talk/variety show, ''The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show'' (later known as ''Hello, Peapickers'') from KGO-TV in San Francisco, broadcast over the ABC television network.

Ford was the spokesman for the Pontiac Furniture Company in Pontiac, Illinois in the 1970s.

Ford's experiences as a navigator and bombardier in World War II led to his involvement with the Confederate Air Force (now the Commemorative Air Force), a war plane preservation group in Texas. He was a featured announcer and celebrity guest at the annual CAF Airshow in Harlingen, Texas, from 1976 to 1988. He donated a once-top-secret Norden Bombsight to the CAF's B-29 bomber restoration project. In the late 1970s, as a CAF colonel, Ford recorded the organization's theme song "Ballad of the Ghost Squadron."

Over the years, Ford was awarded three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, for radio, records, and television. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1984, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1990.

Offstage, both Ford and wife Betty contended with serious alcohol problems; Betty had the problem since the 1950s. Though his drinking worsened in the 60's, he worked continuously, seemingly unaffected by his heavy intake of Cutty Sark whiskey. By the 1970s, however, it had begun to take an increasing toll on his health and ability to sing. After Betty's substance abuse-related death in 1989, Ernie's liver problems, diagnosed years earlier, became more apparent, but he refused to reduce his drinking despite repeated doctors' warnings. In 1990, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. His last interview was taped in September 1991 by his old friend Dinah Shore for her TV show. His physical deterioration by then was quite obvious.

Ford received posthumous recognition for his gospel music contributions by adding him to the Gospel Music Association's Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1994.

Personal life

Ford was married to Betty Heminger from September 18, 1942, until her death on February 26, 1989; they had two children - Jeffrey Buckner “Buck” Ford (born January 6, 1950) and Brion Leonard Ford (born September 3, 1952 in San Gabriel, California - died Friday, October 24, 2008 in White House, Tennessee, of lung cancer at age 56).

Less than four months after Betty's death, Ford, who had long suffered from severe alcoholism, married again. On September 28, 1991, he fell into severe liver failure at Dulles Airport, shortly after leaving a state dinner at the White House hosted by then President George H. W. Bush. Ford died in H. C. A. Reston Hospital Center, in Reston, Virginia, on October 17—exactly 36 years after "Sixteen Tons" was released, and one day shy of the first anniversary of his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Ford was interred at Alta Mesa Memorial Park, Palo Alto, California, Plot: Lot 242 Sub 1, Urn Garden. His second wife, Beverly Wood Ford (1921–2001), died ten years after Ernie and her body was interred with her husband's.

Discography

Albums

Year	Album	Chart Positions		RIAA	Label
		! width="50"	! width="50"
	''This Lusty Land''
	''Spirituals''
''Ford Favorites''
''Ol' Rockin' Ern''
	''Nearer the Cross''
''Star Carol''
	''Gather Round''
''Friend We Have''
	''Sing a Hymn with Me''
''Sixteen Tons''
''Sing a Spiritual with Me''
''Come to the Fair''
	''Civil War Songs of the North''
''Civil War Songs of the South''
''Looks at Love''
''Hymns at Home''
	''Mississippi Showboat''
''I Love to Tell the Story''
''Book of Favorite Hymns''
	''Long Long Ago''
''We Gather Together''
''Story of Christmas''
	''Great Gospel Songs''
''Country Hits Feelin' Blue''
''World's Best Loved Hymns''
	''Let Me Walk with Thee''
''Sing We Now of Christmas''
	''My Favorite Things''
''Wonderful Place''
''God Lives''
''Bless Your Pea Pickin' Heart''
	''Aloha''
''Faith of Our Fathers''
	''Our Garden of Hymns'' (w/ Marilyn Horne)
''World of Pop and Country Hits''
''O Come All Ye Faithful''
	''Songs I Like to Sing''
''New Wave''
''Holy Holy''
	''America the Beautiful''
''Everything Is Beautiful''
	''Abide with Me''
''C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S''
''Folk Album''
	''Mr. Words and Music''
''Standin' in the Need of Prayer''
	''Country Morning''
''Sings About Jesus''
	''Make a Joyful Noise''
''Ernie Sings & Glen Picks'' (w/ Glen Campbell)
	''His Great Love''
''For the 83rd Time''
1977	''He Touched Me''
1978	''Swing Wide Your Golden Gate''
1980	''Tell Me the Old Story''
1984	''Keep Looking Back''

Singles

Year	Single	Chart Positions		Album
		! width="50"	! width="50"
	"Tennessee Border"
"Country Junction"
"Smokey Mountain Boogie"
"Blues Stay Away from Me" (w/ Merle Travis)
"Mule Train"
"Anticipation Blues"
	"The Cry of the Wild Goose"
"Feed'em in the Morning"
"Ain't Nobody's Business But My Own" (w/ Kay Starr)
"I'll Never Be Free" (w/ Kay Starr)
"What This Country Needs"
"Cincinnati Dancing Pig" (w/ The Starlighters)
"Little Juan Pedro"
	"The Shotgun Boogie"
"Tailor Made Woman" (w/ Joe "Fingers" Carr)
"Ocean of Tears" (w/ Kay Starr)
"You're My Sugar" (w/ Kay Starr)
"Mr. and Mississippi"
"The Strange Little Girl"
"Kissin' Bug Boogie"
"Hey Good Lookin'" (w/ Helen O'Connell)
"Rock City Boogie" (w/ The Dinning Sisters)
	"Hambone"
"Everybody's Got Girl But Me"
"Snowshoe Thompson"
"Blackberry Boogie"
"False Hearted Girl" (w/ Ella Mae Morse)
	"I Don't Know"
"Hey, Mr. Cotton Picker"
"Don't Start Courtin' in a Hot Rod Ford" (w/ Molly Bee)
"Kiss Me Big"
	"Honeymoon's Over" (w/ Betty Hutton)
"River of No Return"
"Ein Zwei Drei"
"Somebody Bigger Than You or I"
	"The Ballad of Davy Crockett"
"His Hands"			''Spirituals''
"Sixteen Tons"
	"You Don't Have to Be a Baby to Cry"
"That's All"
"John Henry"			''This Lusty Land''
"Rovin' Gambler"
"Rock and Roll Boogie"			single only
"First Born"
	"Watermelon Song"
"One Suit"
"False Hearted Girl"			''This Lusty Land''
"In the Middle of an Island"
"Ivy League"
	"Bless Your Pea Pickin' Heart"
"Sunday Barbeque"
"Glad Rags"
	"Black-Eyed Susie"
"Sunny Side of Heaven"
	"O Mary Don't You Weep"			''Sing a Spiritual with Me''
"Little Klinker"
"Bless the Land"
	"Dark as a Dungeon"
"Little Red Rockin' Hood"
	"Take Your Girlie to the Movies"			''Mississippi Showboat''
"Rags an Old Iron"			single only
"How Great Thou Art"			''I Love to Tell the Story''
	"Hicktown"			single only
"Now It's All Over"			''Bless Your Pickin' Heart''
"Sing We Now of Christmas"A			''Sing We Now of Christmas''
1966	"God Lives"			''God Lives''
	"Lahaina Luna"			''Aloha''
"Hand-Me-Down Things"			single only
1968	"Talk to the Animals"			''World of Pop and Country Hits''
1969	"Honey-Eyed Girl (That's You That's You)"			''New Wave''
1970	"Rainy Night in Georgia"			''Everything Is Beautiful''
1971	"Happy Songs of Love"
1972	"Pea-Pickin' Cock"
	"Printers Alley Stars"
"Farther Down the River (Where the Fishin's Good)"
"Colorado Country Morning"B
	"Sweet Child of Sunshine"
"I've Got Confidence"
	"Come On Down"
"Baby" (w/ Andra Willis)			''Country Morning''
"The Devil Ain't a Lonely Woman's Friend"			single only
	"I Been to Georgia On a Fast Train"
"Dogs and Sheriff John"

^A"Sing We Now of Christmas" peaked at #2 on the ''RPM'' Top Singles chart in Canada.

^B"Colorado Country Morning" peaked at #85 on the ''RPM'' Country Tracks chart in Canada.

Notes

References

External links

Tennessee Ernie Ford Official Website

Sixteen Tons - The Story Behind the Legend

Category:1919 births Category:1991 deaths Category:People from Bristol, Tennessee Category:American Methodists Category:American country singers Category:American male singers Category:American gospel singers Category:American television personalities Category:Capitol Records artists Category:Country Music Hall of Fame inductees Category:Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductees Category:Grammy Award winners Category:People from Palo Alto, California Category:United States Air Force airmen Category:Southern Gospel performers

cs:Tennessee Ernie Ford de:Tennessee Ernie Ford es:Tennessee Ernie Ford fr:Tennessee Ernie Ford it:Tennessee Ernie Ford nl:Tennessee Ernie Ford pt:Tennessee Ernie Ford simple:Tennessee Ernie Ford

Honorific-suffix	MLA
Order	Minister of Justice
Term start	12 April 2010
Firstminister	Peter Robinson
Predecessor	''New Creation''
Successor	Incumbent
Office2	Leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Term start2	2001
Predecessor2	Séan Neeson
Successor2	Incumbent
Constituency am3	South Antrim
Assembly3	Northern Ireland
Term start3	25 June 1998
Predecessor3	''New Creation''
Birth date	February 24, 1951
Party	Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Spouse	Anne Ford
Alma mater	Queen's University Belfast
Religion	Presbyterian
Website	http://www.davidford.org/
Footnotes	}}

David Ford (born 24 February 1951) is a politician who is a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly. Ford has been leader of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland since 2001 and has been Northern Ireland Minister of Justice since April 2010.

Early life

Ford was born on 24 February 1951 to Northern Irish and Welsh parents and grew up in Orpington, Kent, England. Ford was educated at Warren Road Primary School, Orpington and Dulwich College, London. He spent summer holidays on his uncle's farm in Gortin, County Tyrone, and moved to Northern Ireland permanently in 1969 when he went to study Economics at Queen's University Belfast. There he joined the university's student Alliance Party grouping. After graduating, Ford took a year out to work as a volunteer at the ecumenical Corrymeela Community in Ballycastle, County Antrim, before starting work as a social worker in 1973.

Political career

Ford stood unsuccessfully for Antrim Borough Council in 1989, and entered politics full-time when be became general secretary of the Alliance Party. In that role, he was best known as a strong supporter of the then-leader John Alderdice and an advocate of better political organisation and community politics. He was elected to Antrim Borough Council in 1993, 1997 and - after leaving the Council in 2001 to concentrate on Assembly business - again in 2005.

In 1996, Ford stood unsuccessfully for election to the Northern Ireland Forum in South Antrim, but was a key member of Alliance's team to the talks which led to the Good Friday Agreement. In 1997, he obtained 12% of the vote in the British General Election in South Antrim, and in 1998 was elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in the constituency of the same name. He fought South Antrim again in the 2000 by-election and in the 2001 and 2005 general elections.

Alliance Party leadership

In 2001, Séan Neeson resigned from the Party leadership following poor election results. David Ford won the leadership election on 6 October by 86 votes to 45, ahead of Eileen Bell. Ford was identified with the more Liberal, internationalist wing of Alliance, while Bell was a more traditionalist, bridge-building, candidate. Notably, Ford was also the only Alliance MLA to be also a member of the Liberal Democrats at the time.

Ford outlined his internationalist view point in his speech at the leadership selection when he said:

I am keen to co-operate with other non-sectarian groups in Northern Ireland, including political parties that will stand against the tribal divide. Our links to the South are not as good as they should be, either with the PDs or with Fine Gael, where we have many natural allies.

We must also recognise that Northern Ireland is not unique in the world.

Our stand is not different in substance from those who work for peace and reconciliation in Cyprus, Palestine or Bosnia. We should learn from friends abroad. To suggest that 'our wee province' is unique is to do a disservice. There is little more objectionable than the sight of the political begging bowl being dragged out by sectional politicians.

Ford gave Alliance a stability which it had lacked since the departure of John Alderdice, but the Party had declined seriously in the late 1990s and all Ford could do was stabilise the situation. Within a month of taking over the leadership, however, Ford had a chance to establish Alliance's relevancy in the post-Good Friday Agreement environment - on 6 November 2001, the Northern Ireland Executive was to be re-established. However, due to defections within his own Ulster Unionist Party, First Minister David Trimble, had insufficient support within the Unionist bloc in the Assembly to be re-elected to his post. Ford and two of his five colleagues re-designated as Unionist, for just 22 minutes, in order to secure Trimble's position, and thereby enabled the devolved institutions to operate for another year. However, Alliance failed to make any political gains from their move, and the UUP and Sinn Féin failed to reach agreement on the decommissioning issue, ensuring that the institutions collapsed again in October 2002.

In the Northern Ireland Assembly Elections of 2003, Ford's seat in the Assembly was perceived to be under severe threat from Sinn Féin's Martin Meehan, with many commentators expecting him to lose it. However, Ford's expertise in nuts and bolts electioneering stood him in good stead. Although Alliance's vote almost halved, Ford's own vote in South Antrim increased from 8.6% to 9.1%. Meehan's vote increased dramatically, from 7.3% to 11.5%, and he started the election count ahead. However Ford had much greater transfer appeal and finished 180 votes ahead of Meehan at the end of a dramatic three-way fight for the last two seats, with the SDLP's Thomas Burns just 14 votes ahead of Ford. Despite the dramatic fall in vote, Alliance, almost miraculously, held on to its six seats in the Assembly, which remained suspended.

In 2004, Ford made good his leadership election pledge to work with other parties, as Alliance joined with the Workers' Party, Northern Ireland Conservatives and elements of the Northern Ireland Women's Coalition to support Independent candidate John Gilliland in the European elections, achieving the best result for the centre ground for 25 years.

Ford's greatest triumph came in the 2007 Northern Ireland Assembly election, when the party achieved its highest vote share since Alderdice's departure and picked up a seat in what was an otherwise poor election for the moderates. Despite media predictions once again of his demise, Ford himself was elected third in South Antrim, with over 13% of the poll. In the 2011 Assembly elections, the Alliance Party managed to increase their vote by 50% gaining an extra seat in East Belfast and surpassing the Ulster Unionist Party in Belfast.

Northern Ireland Justice Minister

On 12 April 2010, Ford was chosen by the Assembly to become Northern Ireland's first Justice Minister in 38 years. Ford was supported in the Assembly by the DUP, Sinn Féin, the Alliance Party, the Green Party and the Progressive Unionist Party. Separate candidates for the position were put forward by both the Ulster Unionists and the SDLP, being Danny Kennedy and Alban McGuinness respectively.

Personal life

David Ford is married to Anne, has four grown-up children and lives in rural County Antrim. He is an elder in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.

See also

Alliance Party of Northern Ireland

References

External links

Official site

Alliance Party official site

Category:1951 births Category:Living people Category:English Christians Category:English Presbyterians Category:Leaders of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland Category:Alumni of Queen's University Belfast Category:Northern Ireland MLAs 1998–2003 Category:Northern Ireland MLAs 2003–2007 Category:Northern Ireland MLAs 2007–2011 Category:Northern Ireland MLAs 2011– Category:Old Alleynians Category:English people of Welsh descent Category:People from Orpington Category:Councillors in Northern Ireland