Evening star., 1943-05-26
EdseI Ford
Continued From First Page.

served frequently when asked why
he did not submit to medical treat
ment and surgery if necessary
A year ago last January he was
found to be suffering from numerous
and far-advanced ulcers of the
stomach. DR.. Roscoe R. Graham of
the surgical faculty of the Univer-
sity of Toronto operated on him and
SO far AS possible removed the ul-
cerous condition.
Two weeks and three days after
the operation Edsel Ford was back
at his desk, working from Il to Is
hours day in an industry now
totally converted to war Whether
he knew that he might expect a
recurrence of the malady is not
known. If he did he kept it from
most if not all Of his associates.
1t was about 10 weeks ago that
he gave indications of an impend-
ing breakdown. 1t developed he had
contracted undulant fever-an all
ment usually contracted from ami
mails and transmitted through milk
and which manifests itself in ex-
treme languor and weakness. In
an effort to rid himself of the new
ailment, he went to Florida for a
short vacation. His condition did
not improve and he returned home
Leaves Four Children.
Last Saturday he took to his bed.
From then on he failed rapidly.
Surviving Mr.. Ford besides his
widow and parents are three sons.
Henry. Benson and William, and
daughter. Josephine. The sons are
all in the armed services; the
daughter, recently married, lives in
Detroit.
At the great Ford River Rouge
factories and the Ford d-operated
Willow Run bomber plant, aviation
engines, armor plate, bomber planes
and long list of other war materiel
continued to flow as usual today; a
s4,500 100000 war goods production
program went on uninterrupted.
While Henry Ford and his only
son did not always agree on matters
Of business policy, they did agree
on the need for the greatest possible
speed in the production of war i'm
plementS that the conflict might
be brought to an early conclusion.
They disagreed occasionally, but
they idolized each other.
Just how much of the assets of
the Ford company were listed in
EdSel's name always has been
family secret 1t continued so to-
day Secret also remained the ulti-
mate disposition OF the Ford for
tune
statements of the Ford company,
filed only in Massachusetts, listed
It's assets at in excess of $4,000. 900.
Father to Take Over.
What. if any. changes are to be
made in the executive management
of the company probably will not
be decided for several days. For
the time being, it was assumed in
sources close to the company direct
MANAGEMENT will be undertaken
once again by Henry Ford himself,
who will be 80 years old next July 30
In this undertaking he would have
the aid of Charles E. Sorenson, long
time associate and production genius
of the company.
Mr.. Sorenson is the outstanding
remaining key man with the Ford
organization He joined with Mr..
Ford in 1905.
His father. now 70. had done that
before him. when he was head of the
Ford Motor Co. during the World
War
It was under Edsel Ford's guild
ance, however. that the Ford COM
pany performed its tremendous con-
version to war production, and from
it's plants flow four -engined bombing
planes, tanks, jeeps, amphibious
jeeps, anti-tank units and much
other war equipment.
Edsel Ford was regarded as one of
the chief executives among the
worlds industrial leaders. despite the
fact his fathers fame overshadowed
him.
In addition to his duties as presi-
dent of the company, Mr.. Ford also
was its treasurer and performed the
duties of general manager. although
that Office did not actually exist in
the executive setup of the company.
Educated in the public schools and
Detroit University School, Edsel be-
gan work in the Ford plant in 1912.
After five years of factory work he