JOHN L. FORD SR.
by Rob Taylor Jr., Courier Staff Writer
Samuel W. Black, the director of African American programs at the Heinz History Center, called him “a first-class brother and an example of Black manhood.”
His daughter, Sonya, termed him “a great father and friend,” and that she “will forever be a Daddy’s Girl.”
John L. Ford Sr., a noted historian, collector and lecturer, died on Nov. 12 from complications of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). He was 73.
His passion for Black history and tangible remnants of its culture was unmistakable. After working in corporate management positions for more than 30 years, Ford immersed himself in the study of African history, examining areas of genetics and anthropology.
When Black began his tenure at the Heinz History Center in 2002, Ford was the director of school programs at the History Center. “He was a major collector of Africana and his manuscripts, coins, currency, books and other ephemera were second to none,” Black told the Courier. “He was very knowledgeable about the African Diaspora and especially Black history in Western Pennsylvania. I was happy to collaborate with John on exhibits, conference panels, church programs, and public events.”
Ford then became curator and historian at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum, where he formed the 6th Regiment United States Colored Troops (USCT) Drum Corps for local Black male youth. Ford’s mission behind the drum corps was to educate young African Americans about the pride, glory and challenges faced by USCT soldiers in the Civil War. It’s open to Black youth between the ages of 12-17.
“This group of young men…paraded around Western Pennsylvania and participated in the USCT parade in Harrisburg in 2010 to commemorate the 1865 parade that welcomed Black soldiers,” Black told the Courier. “John taught these young men, that included my son Akhu, military snare drumming and parade march, the history of the United States Colored Troops during the Civil War and particularly the 6th USCT that comprised of a number of Pittsburghers.”
One of Ford’s last speeches came at Carnegie Mellon University’s Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship in late September. He told the students how he remembered Homewood Avenue, working three jobs as a teenager at different locations. “Homewood Avenue was like current-day Lawrenceville, so you could always get a job,” Ford said.
He also discussed entrepreneurship in general, while referencing a recent Gender Equity Report that the City of Pittsburgh released a few weeks prior, which said that Pittsburgh is one of the toughest cities in America for African Americans to achieve economic prosperity.
“If you’re a Black in Pittsburgh, it has always been difficult,” Ford said to the students. “But you couldn’t tell me that. That’s why I became the first Black to work at Harbison-Walker refractories. They had a job posting for vice-president or assistant vice-president. And I thought I could do it. I went down and applied…and they put me in the mailroom. But I was the first Black to work there after 100 years. That was in 1965. The Civil War was over in 1865. It took 100 years to hire a Black man in Gateway Center, Downtown Pittsburgh. So a lot of Blacks, in order to make it, you went into business for yourself.”
Ford, a person who always wanted to see others succeed, shared with the students his five “F’s” to have as an entrepreneur—Be “fast,” “fair,” “factual,” “focused,” and have “fun.”
“There are times at night, I’ll get up at 2 or 3 in the morning, and if I have an autograph by Frederick Douglass, I’m happy. I like reading it,” Ford told the students.
Ford was believed to have one of the largest collections of African American history in the nation.
In the corporate world, Ford held prestigious positions at Mellon Bank National Association, Parke-Davis and Company and 3M Corporation. At Mellon Bank NA, he completed bank management curriculums with the American Institute of Banking.
According to a bio from Carnegie Mellon, Ford was the recipient of many local and national awards including those from Community College of Allegheny County, Pittsburgh Public Schools Gifted Center, United States Housing and Urban Development, United States Postal Service, United States Army Corps of Engineers, NATO (International History and Education Division), National Education Association, Henry Highland Garnet Society, African American History and Genealogical Society and the Pennsylvania State Education Association.
He also taught African American History at local universities and was given a proclamation by Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto declaring Feb. 5, 2019 “John L. Ford Day” in Pittsburgh.
“Personally, he was a friend and we often had personal conversations about being Black men in America,” Black told the Courier of Ford. “John helped me settle in Pittsburgh. He attended my son’s naming ceremony and gifted him a collection of rare coins. He was a first-class brother.”
Ford’s wake will be held today, Nov. 20, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Spriggs & Watson Funeral Home, 720 N. Lang Ave., Homewood. Ford’s funeral service will be held Thursday, Nov. 21, at 11 a.m. at Baptist Temple Church, 7241 Race St., Homewood.
Like us at https://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Pittsburgh-Courier/143866755628836?ref=hl
Follow @NewPghCourier on Twitter https://twitter.com/NewPghCourier
About Post Author
