William Clay Ford,the last surviving grandchild of automotive pioneer Henry Ford and owner of the Detroit Lions, died Sunday at the age of 88 of pneumonia, according to The Washington Post.
Ford was born into a fortune and spent much of his life staying away from fame as he steered the family business and owned an NFL franchise, the Post reported.
Ford Motor Co. said in a statement that Ford died of pneumonia at his home in Grosse Pointe, according to the Post. Ford had also worked for the company bearing his name for more than half of its 100-year history before buying the Lions a half-century ago.
"My father was a great business leader and humanitarian who dedicated his life to the company and the community," William Clay Ford Jr., executive chairman of Ford Motor Co. and Lions vice chairman, said in a statement, the Post reported."He also was a wonderful family man, a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather."
To the masses in the Motor City, Ford was simply the owner of the Lions who struggled to achieve success on the field despite showing his passion for winning by spending money on free agents, coaches, executives and facilities, according to the Post.
From Ford's first season as team owner to his last, the Lions won 310 games, lost 441 and tied 13, the Post reported. His .441 winning percentage with the Lions was the NFL's worst among teams that existed in 1964.
"I hate that we couldn't bring the Lombardi Trophy to Detroit for him," said former defensive end Robert Porcher, who played on the Barry Sanders-led team that won the franchise's only playoff game since 1957, according to the Post.
Funeral services will be private, fittingly for a man who didn't let the public get to know him, the Post reported.
