[Archived] Mayor Euille Appoints Gerald R. Ford Memorial Committee

City Press Release


	For Immediate Release	For More Information, Contact
	February 20, 2007 PIO# 045-07/rdo	Brian Hannigan, Director of Communications, at 703.838.4300 Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300

MAYOR EUILLE APPOINTS GERALD R. FORD MEMORIAL COMMITTEE

Alexandria Mayor William D. Euille has established a five-member citizen committee to recommend ways in which the City can permanently memorialize the late President Gerald R. Ford.

Members of the new Gerald R. Ford Memorial Committee are:

� Ferdinand Day, retired U.S. State Department employee and a community leader who was the first African American to serve as both a member and chairman of the Alexandria School Board.

� Jessica Gibson, co-owner of Passport and Visa Exchange in Alexandria and a native of President Ford’s home state of Michigan.

� David G. Speck, Managing Director-Investments for Wachovia Securities in Alexandria. He is a former member of the Alexandria City Council and the Virginia House of Delegates, and is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

� Pat Troy, Alexandria business leader and chairman of the Ballyshaners, a nonprofit organization that co-sponsors the Alexandria St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the Alexandria Irish Festival.

� Donnan C. Wintermute, real estate broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. Ms. Wintermute grew up just two houses away from the Fords’ Alexandria home on Crown View Drive. She also served as director of volunteers in President Ford’s 1976 campaign.

Congressman Ford and his family moved to Alexandria’s Parkfairfax neighborhood in 1951, during his second term in the House of Representatives. Four years later, the Ford family moved into their new home on Crown View Drive in the Clover neighborhood. They lived there throughout Mr. Ford’s years in Congress and during the eight months he served as Vice President following his appointment by President Nixon and confirmation by Congress in December 1973 to succeed Spiro T. Agnew.

The Fords remained on Crown View Drive for twelve days following President Nixon’s sudden resignation and Gerald Ford’s swearing-in as President on August 9, 1974.

Gerry and Betty Ford’s three sons attended Alexandria City Public Schools, and the two older boys, Mike and Jack, attended T. C. Williams High School with future Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille in the mid-1960’s. Mike Ford and Bill Euille both served as senior class officers. The children walked to school and rode their bikes through the neighborhood. Susan Ford attended private schools and was a popular neighborhood babysitter.

“Alexandria is proud to have served as the home of President Ford and his lovely family,” said Mayor Euille, “and we were deeply honored that the Ford funeral motorcade passed through Alexandria en route to the U.S. Capitol. We look forward to establishing a suitable permanent memorial to honor the dignified legacy of our 38th President.”

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