I heard the news late last night that President Ford had passed. So I wrote a couple of comments in the threads and it was suggested that I post a diary. I may be the only Kossack who has lived in Eagle County, home to Vail and Beaver Creek, for almost 30 years, so I have a few fond memories of the Fords and what they meant to Vail. Anyone that lives here can probably tell stories about the Fords. That's because they were 'locals' like us. They shopped at the local market. Betty had her hair done at the local beauty shop. She pulled weeds at the Alpine Garden that bears her name. They dined in the local restaurants.
The headline quote in today's Vail Daily states it best: ‘He was Vail’s very best friend’. I would like to share some memories of Vail's #1 ambassador.....
I met Mrs. Ford, even shook her hand, in Denver in 1976 when Gerry was running for President, before I moved to Vail. She was passing out "Keep Betty in the White House" campaign buttons to the staff at the hotel where I worked. I don’t know what happened to my button, but at the time I recall thinking that Betty was about the only reason anyone would vote for the President! She was a feminist and role model for women. Later that year I moved to Vail.
While living and working in Vail in my early years here, after the President had lost the election, Mr. Ford spent a lot of time in the mountain home he loved. I had a couple of personal experiences with the Fords during my first years in Vail. Both could be considered "Gerry Ford" moments while in his presence. I nearly fell off our float in the Vail 4th of July parade in 1978 when the driver hit the brakes at the customary stop below the balcony where the Fords viewed the parade. The next ‘moment’ was when I spoke loudly right as the President was getting ready to swing during the Ford Classic golf tournament. Everyone "shussed" me. Yes, I was embarrassed! (We won the first place trophy for our float and the President sliced the ball that day on the golf course.)
Other than those close personal encounters, my memories are of what the Fords did for Vail. President and Mrs. Ford never said no when asked to help the Vail community. He and his family are always considered as down-to-earth and neighborly. He was a true ambassador for his mountain home.
Here is a list of what I will always remember the Fords having done for Vail:
- President Ford loved to golf. For years he held the Gerald Ford Golf Tournament where the proceeds were raised for local charities.
- He started the World Forum in Beaver Creek that continues today and brings leaders from throughout the world to discuss current world events.
- Betty Ford founded the Betty Ford Alpine Garden in Vail that is a model of indigenous high-country trees, plants and flowers that require little water. The garden is one of the first xeriscape examples done in Colorado. When I built my home, I added a "Peace" garden where instead of a housewarming; I invited friends to bring a plant for the garden. It was inspired by the Betty Ford garden and it is lovely.
- We have the Gerald Ford Amphitheatre in Vail that hosts world renowned music and dance in a gorgeous mountain setting. The Rochester Philharmonic and others say it is their favorite place to play. President Ford lent is name to help raise the money for the facility when it was built and continued to help raise money for the music festivals. We can attend top ballet and philharmonics in Vail for $35 and less.
- He and Betty were always in attendance at the Vail 4th of July parade and there is even the "Presidents Trophy" in his name.
- He started the Ford Cup – American Ski Classic. When Vail bid to host the World Alpine Ski Championships, President Ford lent a hand - he loved to ski. And he was there in the lunch tent with the local business sponsors during the races.
- The Fords lit the Vail Christmas tree every year. It became an annual fundraiser for our local Hospice to buy a decoration for the tree.
Those are the memories I have of the Fords. Here are some snips from today’s Vail Daily.
Sheika met the Fords when they first came to town, Christmas 1967 when Ford was a Michigan congressman. The Fords connected to Vail through Ted Kendall, who built the Christiania Lodge and was from Grand Rapids, Mich., the city where Ford was born and raised. Kendall’s father was Ford’s Boy Scout scoutmaster and helped Ford become an Eagle Scout.
"He was a world leader who attracted kings and other world leaders to the Vail Valley, and still had time for the shepherds," Jouflas said. "He was the greatest asset the Vail Valley had."
(Note: Jouflas is a sheep herder in our county.)
"They are lovely, generous people," "You might have voted for someone else...But not because you didn’t like him.".
Vail and Eagle County love the Fords and the Fords loved their mountain home and Vail. He was and always will be a part of our fabric. He was proud of Vail and of the people who live here. He called many of them friends. There will be a memorial service in Vail. You can bet it will be one of the biggest gatherings in memorial our town will ever see.
I, we, will always remember President Ford as one of us - a Vail local.
Via con Dios, Mr. President.
Links:
The man who put Vail on camera
Golf was about family for Ford