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.
44 Facts About Benson Ford
1.
2.
Benson Ford served on the Ford Motor Company Board of Directors.
3.
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.
4.
Benson Ford was born in Detroit, Michigan, to Eleanor Clay Ford and Edsel Ford on July 20,1919.
5.
Henry II and Benson Ford were given the use of Henry's chauffeur.
6.
Sheldrick took Edsel to watch the tests of the first completed jeep model, and arranged for Henry and Benson Ford to drive it out of a patch of tall grass and underbrush right up to their father.
7.
Benson Ford's father believed the boys need to learn as many aspects of the company as possible from the "concrete floor up".
8.
Benson Ford married Edith McNaughton, 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.
9.
Benson Ford loved racing and drove the Indianapolis 500 pace car three times.
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Benson Ford drove a Mercury in the 1950 race, a Mustang in 1964, and a Comet Cyclone GI in 1966.
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However, Benson Ford persisted in his desire to serve his country and would not give up.
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Benson Ford completed officer's candidate school in Fargo, North Dakota, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in June 1943.
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In December 1943 Benson Ford was stationed in San Francisco at the Fourth Air Force Headquarters.
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In October 1944 Benson Ford was transferred to the Newfoundland Base Command of the United States Air Corps for 13 months.
15.
When his father Edsel, Ford Motor Company president, died of cancer on May 26,1943, Benson continued his service the Army for the duration of the war.
16.
Benson Ford was named a vice-president of the Ford Motor Company at a Ford Motor Company meeting on June 1,1943.
17.
Captain Benson Ford separated from the Army in February 1946, honorably discharged at the end of all wartime hostilities, and came home.
18.
Once he left the Army, Benson returned to Ford Motor Company.
19.
On January 30,1948, Benson Ford 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.
20.
Benson Ford joined his brothers Henry Ford II who was named Ford President in 1945, and William, who in 1955 became head of the Continental Division.
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Benson Ford was very supportive of Henry II and always had the company's best interest at heart.
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Benson Ford was good-natured, a consummate charmer, and could make anyone feel like his friend.
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Benson Ford was good humored and was astute at remembering names of people, as well as their wives' and children.
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Benson Ford was involved with the development of the 1949 Ford.
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Benson Ford was on the committee that selected the final Eugene Gregorie design.
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Benson Ford accomplished the goal of making Mercury competitive in the medium priced car markets.
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Benson Ford drove a 1950 Mercury convertible as the Indianapolis 500 pace car in 1950.
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Benson Ford made the decision to partner with Bill Stroup to enter a team of 1953 Lincolns in the 1952 Pan-American Road Race.
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Not content, Benson brought the winning driver to meet with Ford engineers to identify areas for improvement.
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Benson Ford's efforts were in keeping with a racing tradition started by his grandfather who beat Henry Winton in the "sweepstakes" race in 1901.
31.
Benson Ford triggered a sensation with it at 1955 auto shows.
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Mr and Mrs Benson Ford were extremely active in the United Community Funds and Councils of America.
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Benson Ford served as a director for the organization and in 1961 served as the National Chairman of the United Community Campaigns of America.
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Benson Ford worked for religious tolerance and in 1951 was named Protestant national co-chair of the National Conference of Christians and Jews.
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Benson Ford joined the Henry Ford Hospital Board of Trustees in 1946, and succeeded his grandfather Henry Ford as its president in 1947.
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Benson Ford was a director and or chairman for countless organizations including The National Safety Council, the Traffic Safety Association of Detroit, The Automotive Safety Foundation, Greater Detroit Committee for Project Hope, the Dermatology Foundation, the Citizens Conference on State Legislatures and the village of Grosse Pointe Shores.
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Mr Benson Ford received numerous citations for his contributions to religious and racial tolerance.
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In 1961 Benson Ford received the annual Knight of Charity Award presented by Maryglade College based on "unison in family life with person-to-person charity".
39.
The Benson Ford family owns less than two percent of the company's shares, but controls 40 percent of the voting power through a special class of stock.
40.
In 1924, the MV Benson Ford was built and launched on 26 April 1924 for the Ford Motor Company, designed and used for transporting iron ore and other materials across the Great Lakes.
41.
The MV Benson Ford had rated service speeds of 11 knots or 12.7 miles per hour.
42.
The maiden voyage of the MV Benson Ford took place on 2 August 1924, with a coal load from Toledo, Ohio, being transported to Duluth, Minnesota, and then returning to the Ford Rouge plant in Dearborn, Michigan, with a load of iron ore.
43.
The MV Benson Ford made news when it ran aground twice in 1959.
44.
When licensing for the potential unique ship inn could not be obtained, the MV Benson Ford was resold five years later as a private island residence.