Ford, Henry, II (1917-1987), was an American automobile manufacturer who reorganized the Ford Motor Company during the 1940’s and rescued it from near bankruptcy. He was a grandson of Henry Ford, who organized the company in 1903.
Henry Ford II was born on Sept. 4, 1917, in Detroit. During World War II (1939-1945), he served in the United States Navy at Great Lakes Naval Training Center. In 1943, his father, Edsel Ford, then president of Ford Motor Company, died. Henry Ford II was released from the Navy to work at his grandfather’s company, which produced military vehicles and other supplies needed for the war effort.
Ford became vice president of the company in 1943 and took over the presidency from his grandfather in 1945. At that time, the company was losing about $9 million a month. Ford hired a team of expert managers to help him reorganize the company. He also introduced new marketing methods and automobile designs to meet the changing tastes of the American public. In 1949, after the reorganization, the company earned about $177 million. Ford’s leadership was responsible for company’s return to profitability.
During the 1950’s and 1960’s, such successful models as the Thunderbird, Falcon, Mustang, and Maverick helped keep the company strong. In 1960, Ford became chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Ford Motor. He retired as chief executive officer in 1979 and as chairman in 1980. He died on Sept. 29, 1987.
Ford helped establish a number of social welfare organizations. In 1967, for example, he helped found the Urban Coalition, which worked to solve problems in large cities. This organization became the National Urban Coalition in 1970. In 1968, Ford helped organize the National Alliance of Business to find jobs for the unemployed.
