Education
Ford attended United States schools in the Panama Canal Zone, Mercersburg Academy, and graduated from Yale University with a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering in 1945.
Ford attended United States schools in the Panama Canal Zone, Mercersburg Academy, and graduated from Yale University with a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering in 1945.
Born in the Panama Canal Zone, he moved to Sarasota, Florida from Midland, Michigan. He served as an ensign in the United States. Navy during the final months of World World War World War II During his prep and university swimming careers, Ford held numerous national and world records. While at Yale, he trained under swimming coach Robert J. H. Kiphuth, an innovator who introduced dry-land exercises and interval training.
Ford broke Johnny Weissmuller"s 17-year-old world record in the 100-yard freestyle.
In 1944, Ford became the first person to swim 100 yards freestyle in less than 50 seconds, swimming"s equivalent of running a sub-four-minute mile in track. Ford became known as the "human fish," an unofficial title he took over from Weissmuller.
This performance was unequaled for eight years. During his senior year at Yale University, he was the captain of Yale Bulldogs swimming and diving team
In 1944, when Ford was in the prime of his swimming career, the 1944 Summer Olympics were cancelled because of World World War World War II He came out of retirement after the war and returned to New Haven to train with Kiphuth.
He had lost as much as 25 pounds of muscle and hadn"t been in a pool for three years. After his graduation from Yale, Ford went on to become a mechanical engineer Ford designed and managed the construction of oil refineries, chemical, ore, and food-processing plants as well as petroleum and chemical storage facilities in the United States and abroad.
Ford was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame as an "Honor Swimmer" in 1966.
At the ceremonies, when Ford was introduced, someone in the audience booed loudly. The crowd broke into laughter when they realized it was Johnny Weissmuller.
His swimming talents can still be seen in the 1940s film, Blue Winners. Ford died of emphysema on November 3, 2008 in Sarasota, Florida.
He was 84 years old.