Born on July 14, 1913 Gerald R. Ford was born on July 14, 1913, in Omaha, Nebraska. Moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan with is mother in 1914. Madison Elementary School Photo Between 1918-1925 Ford attended elementary school at Madison Elementary and East Grand Rapids Elementary in Grand Rapids, MI. Senior Portrait Ford attended South High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan where he exceled at football, being named to the “All-City�? and “All-State�? teams. Yellowstone Ranger Ford worked as an intern Forest Ranger at Yellowstone Park’s Canyon Station. Eagle Scout On his twelfth birthday, Ford joined the local Boy Scout Troop 15 of Trinity Methodist Church and two years later attained the rank of Eagle Scout. Gridiron Glory Ford attends the University of Michigan and graduates with a B.A. in Economics. Ford also plays center on the football team and receives professional football contract offers from the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions, which he declines. Law School Ford attends Yale University Law School. Military Service Ford volunteers for the Navy. He is assigned to the Navy’s V-5 pre-flight program in Annapolis, Maryland to become a physical training instructor. Marriage Ford and Betty Bloomer Warren wed at Grace Episcopal Church in Grand Rapids. Marrying in the middle of his congressional campaign, the couple honeymoon briefly in Ann Arbor Family Life Gerald R. Ford, Jr., Betty Ford, and their children Mike, Jack, Susan, and Steve sit in the dining room of the Ford residence Alexandria, VA in 1958. Congressman Representative Gerald R. Ford, Jr., pages through a bound copy of 1952 Congressional hearings. 1953. President President Ford in the Oval Office. August 11, 1974.

Born: July 14, 1913, Omaha, Nebraska. Moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1914.

Died: December 26, 2006, Rancho Mirage, California.

Personal Data: Height - 6 Feet; Hair - Blond; Eyes - Blue

Ancestry: English

Religion: Episcopalian

Grade Schools:

Madison Elementary School; East Grand Rapids Elementary School.

Boy Scouts: Attained rank of Eagle Scout.

High School:

Grand Rapids South High School, Class of 1931. Member of National Honor Society, Varsity Letter Club, Glee Club, Student Council, Latin Club, and Hi-Y (High School YMCA). Participated in football, basketball, and track. Earned All-City and All-State honors in football.

Assorted Summer and Miscellaneous Jobs:

Filled and cleaned paint cans in family paint business; mowed lawns; handled concessions at an amusement park; washed dishes and grilled hamburgers in a restaurant; Park Ranger, Yellowstone National Park; washed dishes in college fraternity house; model.

College:

B.A., University of Michigan, Class of 1935. Majored in economics and political science. Member of Michagamua (senior men's honor society), Sphinx (junior men's honor society), Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, Interfraternity Council, and Student Council. Played center and linebacker on U-M football team. Started at center and named team MVP in senior year. Played in East-West College All-Star game and Chicago Tribune College All-Star game. Did not earn All-America honors as popularly believed. Received contract offers from the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions (which Ford turned down in favor of law school).

Law School:

LL.B., Yale University Law School, Class of 1941. Member of Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity, and worked as assistant football coach and freshman boxing coach.

Occupation: Attorney.

Military Service:

During the attack on Pearl Harbor Gerald Ford lived in Grand Rapids and practiced law. He joined the US Navy in 1942 and remained on active duty until 1946. Ford served aboard the USS Monterey and was discharged with the rank of Lt. Commander. He received the following medals and awards: the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-American Campaign Medal with one silver star and four bronze stars, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two bronze stars. Ford remained in the Naval Reserves until 1963.

Marriage:

Elizabeth Bloomer Warren (b. April 8, 1918), October 15, 1948.

Children:

Michael Gerald (b. March 14, 1950), John (Jack) Gardner (b. March 16, 1952), Steven Meigs (b. May 19, 1956), Susan Elizabeth (b. July 6, 1957).

Congress:

Served Grand Rapids and Kent County in United States House of Representatives, 1949-1973. House Minority Leader, 1965-1973.

Vice President:

Succeeded Spiro Agnew as Richard Nixon's vice president following Agnew's resignation. Confirmed on December 6, 1973.

President:

Sworn-in as president (at the age of 61 years, 26 days) following Richard Nixon's resignation on August 9, 1974. Selected Nelson Rockefeller as his vice president. Left office on January 20, 1977, following general election loss to Jimmy Carter.

Presidential Pets:

Liberty, Golden Retriever; Misty, Golden Retriever (Liberty's off-spring); Shan Shein, Siamese Cat.

President Ford's Favorites

Hobby: stamp collecting

Breakfast: orange juice, melon, English muffins, and tea with lemon

Food: pot roast and red cabbage (for recipes see The White House Family Cookbook by Henry Haller (New York: Random House, 1987, pp. 176-179)

Dessert: butter pecan ice cream

Hymn: The Navy Hymn - "Eternal Father Strong to Save"

Drink: coffee, iced tea

Color: red

Participatory Sport: golf, tennis, skiing, swimming

Sports Figure: Al Kaline, Detroit Tigers

Parlor Game: bridge

Flower: apple blossom, azalea

Dance: ballroom

Music: jazz, swing

Book: non-fiction contemporary history

Weather: sunshine on golf course, snow on ski slopes

Place to Visit: Vail, Colorado

Time of Day, Season: dawn, all seasons

Hero: Dwight D. Eisenhower

Most Unforgettable Moment: Noon, August 9, 1974, when sworn in as president.

Most Valued Advice: "That which comes from my wife."

Memberships: American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, AMVETS, 33rd Degree Mason