Benson Ford
Benson Ford Sr., originally named Edsel Ford Jr, was an American businessman in the automotive industry, a vice-president of Ford Motor Company, and national co-chairman of the National Conference of Christians and Jews. Benson Ford remains famous for: being the first prominent person in the Ford family to actively preach religious harmony between faiths through his NCCJ co-chairmanship ; through the internationally famous Benson Ford Research Center in Dearborn, Michigan, which bears his name; and the now historic 1924 Great Lakes freighter Benson Ford Ship named after him, now known as the Benson Ford Shiphouse, in Put-In-Bay, Ohio. Benson was also noteworthy as being the one member of the Ford family most closely associated with Lincoln-Mercury, rather than Ford, where under Benson's guidance the experimental Lincoln Futura car was developed. The Futura later became the most famous and recognizable car in the world for several years, television's Batmobile driven by Batman actor Adam West.
In addition to being a vice-president of the Ford Motor Company and Lincoln-Mercury director, Benson was chairman of the Board of the Edison Institute, chairman of the Board of Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, and was the prominent key national co-chairman of the National Conference of Christians and Jews, an organization espousing religious tolerance which evolved into one of the most important religious tolerance organizations in the United States today. Benson was a son of Edsel Ford I, and the grandson of Ford Motor Company founder Henry Ford I. He was a vice-president of the Ford Motor Company, chief director of the Lincoln-Mercury division 1948 to 1956, and director of the Lincoln-Mercury Dealer Policy Board from 1956 to 1978. He also served on the Ford Motor Company Board of Directors. Benson Ford was president of the Ford Motor Company Fund, a non-profit that makes substantial contributions to charitable activities, from 1961 until his death.Early life and education
Benson Ford was born in Detroit, Michigan, to Eleanor Clay Ford and Edsel Ford on July 20, 1919. He, his brothers Henry II and William, and sister Josephine, grew up in Indian Village, and at the Ford's Gaukler Point estate in Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan, on Lake St. Clair. Benson's early education was at the Liggett School and the Detroit University School before attending the Hotchkiss Academy in Connecticut, graduating in 1938. The family would travel to Europe together every few years. Winters were often spent at their residence in Hobe Sound, Florida. In the summer the family traveled by private rail car to their oceanside estate at Seal Harbor, Maine.
While growing up, Benson and his siblings spent a lot of time with Henry and Clara Ford at the Ford's Fairlane Estate. Activities included driving gasoline powered cars scaled to their size, camp outs, tree climbing, and tending to a half-acre farm created by Henry for their use. Henry taught them practical, hands on skills. The Fords also built them a cottage scaled to their size which was filled with presents for the children each Christmas. Inside the mansion, they enjoyed the bowling alley and indoor pool. The fun continued on Ford Motor Company property. Henry II and Benson were given the use of Henry's chauffeur. They were allowed to run riot with Henry's blessing and encouragement. They drove trains at the Rouge. On Saturdays they would go with Henry to the engineering laboratory where they would drive Model Ts inside the building and shuffle time cards. One time they took over the cash register in the cafeteria and gave out money to employees.Early days at Ford Motor Company
After attending Hotchkiss, Benson was accepted by Princeton University and attended Princeton for two years, but opted to leave college early to begin his career at Ford Motor Company. In his early years at Ford, he first worked in the experimental garage with Henry II at the Ford Engineering Laboratory starting in the dynamometer room testing engines. Ford Engineer Lawrence Sheldrick, said that the boys, "didn't pull any punches about getting their hands dirty ... and their clothes all messed up". While in the Engineering Lab they worked for Leonard Williams, a no-nonsense black foreman who taught them how to tear apart engines. During Benson's early days as an engineer at Ford, he helped build one of the company's first experimental jeeps, along with his brother, Henry Ford II. Sheldrick took Edsel to watch the tests of the first completed jeep model, and arranged for Henry and Benson to drive it out of a patch of tall grass and underbrush right up to their father. "He got the biggest bang out of that ... He was awfully proud of his boys." Sheldrick commented. Benson later moved around to different departments. His father believed the boys need to learn as many aspects of the company as possible from the "concrete floor up". This became the guiding premise when new Ford family members enter the company. In his final stockholder meeting in 1979 Henry Ford II summed up the approach "the ownership of Class B stock is no passport to a top position in Ford ... It confers no special privilege ... If any other member of my family achieves a senior position the company, it will be through merit ...There are no Crown Princes in the Ford Motor Company".Personal life
Benson married Edith McNaughton, also of Grosse Pointe, daughter of Lynn McNaughton, a former vice president and general manager at motor car rival Cadillac, on July 9, 1941, in Christ Church Detroit. Miss McNaughton lived next door to the Fords in Detroit, and they attended kindergarten together. The couple had two children: a son and a daughter. They made their home in Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan. The Fords enjoyed boating and owned several boats, including a succession of yachts named Onika. Benson was an active photographer and golfer. He loved racing and drove the Indianapolis 500 pace car three times. He drove a Mercury in the 1950 race, a Mustang in 1964, and a Comet Cyclone GT in 1966. Benson suffered from angina, a painful heart condition. After a 1957 heart attack, Benson remained in relatively ill health in his last two decades, until his final heart attack in 1978. Like his brothers, Benson also struggled with alcoholism.During World War II, Benson was twice rejected from service as status 4-F, due to blindness in his left eye. However, Benson persisted in his desire to serve his country and would not give up. Despite his left eye blindness, Benson insisted and persisted, and was finally allowed to enlist in the United States Army in 1942, as a private. Benson completed officer's candidate school in Fargo, North Dakota, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in June 1943. In December 1943 Benson was stationed in San Francisco at the Fourth Air Force Headquarters. Shortly thereafter he was made aide-de-camp to Brigadier General Samuel M. Connell and was transferred into the Army Air Corps. In October 1944 Benson was transferred to the Newfoundland Base Command of the United States Air Corps for 13 months. Through meritorious service Benson eventually achieved the rank of captain in January 1945. This was the highest rank achieved by any member of the Ford family. When his father Edsel, Ford Motor Company president, died of cancer on May 26, 1943, Benson continued his service in the Army for the duration of the war. His brother Henry Ford II, then in the United States Navy, was honorably discharged from the service after his father's death to take over leadership at Ford Motor Company on request of the United States government. Henry II assumed the presidency of Ford on September 21, 1945. Benson Ford was named a vice-president of the Ford Motor Company at a Ford Motor Company meeting on June 1, 1943. Captain Ford separated from the Army in February 1946, honorably discharged at the end of all wartime hostilities, and came home. Once he left the Army, Benson returned to Ford Motor Company.Return to Ford
After World War II Ford was re-organized in the image of General Motors into profit centers and a line and staff components. On January 30, 1948, Benson was elected a vice president of the company and appointed the director of the newly formed Lincoln-Mercury Division, carrying on in his father's foot-steps. In October of the same year, he was named general manager of the division. He joined his brothers Henry Ford II who was named Ford President in 1945, and William, who in 1955 became head of the Continental Division. Together, they shattered the belief that the third generation kills companies. Together, they modernized the company and re-stored Ford's pre-war glory. As his health declined Benson became Chairman of the Lincoln-Mercury Dealer Policy Board. Benson was very supportive of Henry II and always had the company's best interest at heart. The Policy Board position was an ideal fit given his experience with Lincoln-Mercury and his personality. Benson was good-natured, a consummate charmer, and could make anyone feel like his friend. While Henry ran the company Benson became the Ford that pressed the flesh. He loved to travel. Benson was good humored and was astute at remembering names of people, as well as their wives' and children.Lincoln-Mercury highlights
Benson Ford was involved with the development of the 1949 Ford. The 1949 is often described by historians as "The car that saved Ford Motor Company". It was Ford's first vehicle not based on a pre-war design. Benson was on the committee that selected the final Eugene Gregorie design. The car was unique for its "fenderless" design and its large flat side panels. Benson explained the positioning of Mercury in the market in 1950, "From the viewpoint of the total Ford Motor Company, what should Ford owners graduate to? The next logical choice would be a Mercury." The Mercury version was unique from the Ford and the sleek, rakish design was based on upscale Lincoln products. It just looked fast. It was. The 1949 Mercury took sales from 47,142 Mercury cars in 1948 to 301,319 for 1949, a nine-fold improvement. The 1949–1951 Mercury with 110 HP was a favorite with young car enthusiasts. The large side panels were also perfect for after-market customization and the engine was easily modified to improve performance. Benson Ford accomplished the goal of making Mercury competitive in the medium priced car markets. Benson drove a 1950 Mercury convertible as the Indianapolis 500 pace car in 1950. Ford sold nearly a million Mercurys in three years. The Mercury also got a boost in 1955 when the coupe version was featured in the film, Rebel Without a Cause, starring James Dean. During his tenure Mercury introduced several innovations. The 1955 Montclair Sun Valley featured a tinted plexiglass panel for the front half of the roof and the Mercury Monterrey was offered with a vinyl roof.