ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Detroit Lions owner Martha Ford made a stunning move Thursday, firing team president Tom Lewand and general manager Martin Mayhew.

Ford took over ownership in 2014 after the death of her husband, William Clay Ford Sr. Here are five things to know about the woman who is making the decisions about the Lions and their future:

1. She’s a Vassar grad: Ford graduated from Vassar -- then one of the pre-eminent all-female universities in the country -- in 1946 with a bachelor’s degree. She moved to Detroit in 1947 after marrying her husband, Ford Sr., who bought the Lions in 1963. When he died in 2014, Ford took over ownership of the team.

Martha Ford took over ownership of the Detroit Lions in 2014 following the death of her husband, William Clay Ford Sr. AP Photo/Carlos Osorio

2. Clearly not her husband: Ford Sr. was known as a patient and loyal man, often to a fault. That was evident in the long tenure of former team president/general manager Matt Millen, who ran the team until the middle of 2008, when he was fired and eventually replaced by Lewand and Mayhew. This is likely not a move her husband would have made midseason, but it clearly shows she is not afraid to shake things up.

3. She comes from impressive lineage: Ford’s maiden name is Firestone – as in the tire magnate Firestone. Her grandfather, Harvey Firestone, founded Firestone Tire and Rubber. She also has obvious ties to the Ford family as she is the matriarch. According to Forbes, she inherited 9 percent of the company’s stock.

4. Her family is involved: During the one time she spoke in June, she said she made decisions with the consultation of her family. Her four children, Bill Ford Jr., Elizabeth Ford Kontulis, Sheila Ford Hamp and Martha Ford Morse, are all vice chairpersons of the Lions. Ford has been a constant presence at games -- often with her children or grandchildren -- and in June said she showed up at practices because, “I want the team to know they have owners that care.” It is unclear how many big decisions she has had to make prior to Thursday’s firings.

5. She is a billionaire: Forbes has her listed as being worth $1.38 billion -- the 1,250th-richest person in the world. She’s also the 418th-richest person in the United States. She’s in complete control of the franchise, as her son, Ford Jr. said. According to the Detroit Free Press, she has also impressed NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who said he felt Ford has done a “terrific job.”