Gerard W. Ford

Co-founder of Ford Models

Gerard William "Jerry" Ford (October 2, 1924 – August 24, 2008) was an American businessman who in 1946 founded Ford Modeling Agency with his wife Eileen Ford in their apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City.2

From Wikipedia’s article on Gerard W. Ford (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Born Oct 2, 1924, died Aug 24, 2008.1

Companies

Early life and education

  • Date not recordedColumbia University School of General Studies3

Career

Occupation: model agent.5

In 1945, after completing his Naval service aboard a supply ship based in the Pacific Theater of Operations, Ford returned to his home and wife in New York. He resumed his studies in accounting at Columbia University, while Mrs. Ford worked as a secretary for several of her friends, also models, and eventually became their informal agent. When she became pregnant, she left active work and he stepped in to manage the business.

Prior to Ford's innovations, models generally handled their own bookings and billing individually. In the 1970s, Ford created the first contracts for models to represent specific brands exclusively, securing higher fees for the models. He negotiated the first such contract for Lauren Hutton to represent Revlon in 1974.

At the time of his death, he resided in Oldwick, New Jersey. He died in Morristown, New Jersey at the age of 83. The cause of his death was complications from endocarditis.

His daughter is Katie Ford.

From Wikipedia’s article on Gerard W. Ford (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Personal life

  • BornOct 2, 1924, New Orleans6
  • CitizenshipUnited States7
  • SpouseEileen Ford Until 20088