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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A full and generous life drew to a close with the |
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passing of Edmond John Ford, Jr., of Corpus Christi on January 21, |
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2013, at the age of 94; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, on January 28, |
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1918, Ed Ford was the son of Edmond and Grace Ford; he was a standout |
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track and field athlete at Phillips Academy in Andover, and his |
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strong academic record earned him acceptance to Harvard University, |
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where he played for the football team and graduated cum laude; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1942, he exchanged vows with the former Marie |
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Roberta "Bobbe" Welder; after Mr. Ford earned his law degree from |
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Harvard, he and his wife relocated to her family's ranch north of |
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Taft, Texas, which he later operated; together for seven decades, |
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they were blessed with two daughters, Helen and Grace, and with the |
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passing years, they had the pleasure of seeing their family grow to |
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include 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Ford proudly served his country as a captain in |
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the U.S. Army from 1942 until 1945, during which time he trained |
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pilots and established flight instrument courses in Bryan and |
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Lubbock; after the war, he began his career in law, specializing in |
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real estate, oil, and business deals, and served as a judge in the |
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early 1960s; a prominent community leader, he co-chartered the Bank |
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of Corpus Christi, which later became IBC Bank, and served as its |
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chair; he also served as president of the Corpus Christi Country |
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Club, the Corpus Christi Town Club, and the Corpus Christi Pops |
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Concert Association and as vice president of the Corpus Christi |
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Symphony Society; and |
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WHEREAS, In his leisure time, this dynamic Texan enjoyed |
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traveling the world with his wife, typically with a few of their |
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grandchildren in tow, and he counted golfing, playing cards, and |
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making trips to the greyhound racetrack among his hobbies; a member |
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of the King's Men in Corpus Christi's traditional Buccaneer Days |
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celebration, he is best remembered for delivering entertaining |
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toasts and for being selected as King Alonso XXX during the 1983 |
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coronation ceremony; he cultivated many close friendships |
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throughout his life and often entertained his loved ones by |
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reciting poems, songs, and quotes from memory; and |
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WHEREAS, Known for his integrity, generosity, and devotion to |
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his family, Ed Ford leaves behind a legacy that will forever be |
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treasured by all who were fortunate to know him; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Edmond John Ford, Jr., |
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and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to his |
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wife, Bobbe Ford; to his daughters, Helen Allen and her husband, |
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R. C., and Grace Powers and her husband, Jack; to his |
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grandchildren, Lizzie Holmes, Janet Allen, Ford Allen and his wife, |
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Bea, James Allen, Jack Powers and his wife, Jettie, Roberta Wallace |
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and her husband, Trey, Kyle Cromwell and her husband, Charles, |
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Edmond Powers, Willie Powers and his wife, Catherine, and Tim |
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Powers and his wife, Julia; to his 12 great-grandchildren; and to |
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his other relatives and friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Edmond John |
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Ford, Jr. |