Detroit Lions owner and chairman William Clay Ford Sr. has died of pneumonia at his home, team president Tom Lewand announced Sunday. Ford was 88.
Ford, the last surviving grandson of Henry Ford, was a staple in the Detroit community. He purchased the Lions in 1963 for a reported $6 million.
"No owner loved his team more than Mr. Ford loved the Lions," Lewand said in a statement. "Those of us who had the opportunity to work for Mr. Ford knew of his unyielding passion for his family, cheap jerseys the Lions and the city of Detroit. His leadership, integrity, kindness, humility and good humor were matched only by his desire to bring a Super Bowl championship to the Lions and to our community. Each of us in the organization will continue to relentlessly pursue that goal in his honor."
During his ownership, Ford presided over a Lions team that won only one playoff game and never made a Super Bowl. Ford was known as a loyal employer, a characteristic that came under fire during the tenure of former general manager Matt Millen.
Ford moved the club from Tiger Stadium in Detroit to the Pontiac Silverdome in 1975 before bringing his team back downtown.
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