VALE William Clay Ford

The last surviving grandchild of company founder Henry Ford, William Clay served with Ford, both as an employee and board member, for 57 years.

The son of Edsel Ford and younger brother to Henry II and Benson, William Clay began his employment with the Motor Company in 1949. Inheriting his father's passion for design and style, William Clay was elected chairman of the Design Committee in 1957.

While not responsible for any specific designs himself, William Clay oversaw numerous classic Ford vehicles across more than two decades, and was particularly proud of the Continental Mark II from 1956.

In 1978, William Clay was elected chairman of Ford's Executive Committee, then vice chairman of the board in 1980 and chairman of the Finance Committee in 1987. Following retirement from all these posts by 1995, William Clay was named the company's Director Emeritus in 2005.

William Clay Ford is survived by his wife, Martha Firestone Ford, four children, fourteen grandchildren and two great grandchildren.