2013 Keith Crain/Automotive News Lifetime Achievement Award

Edsel Ford II named 2013 winner of the Keith Crain/Automotive News Lifetime Achievement Award at The Washington Auto Show®

 AN Editor-in-Chief Keith Crain to Make Presentation Thurs., Jan. 31

Edsel B. Ford II, a member of the board of Ford Motor Company, noted philanthropist and the great-grandson of Ford Motor Company founder Henry Ford, has been named the 2013 recipient of the Keith Crain/Automotive News Lifetime Achievement Award, presented at The Washington Auto Show.

“Edsel is a pillar of the automotive industry and community at large,” said Keith Crain, Chairman of Crain Communications and Editor-in-Chief of Automotive News. “More than 30 years of service to Ford is second only to his passion for performing charitable and benevolent actions.”

Mr. Ford began his career at Ford Motor Company in 1974. He was named president and chief operating officer of Ford Motor Credit Company in 1991 and in 1993 he was elected a company vice president.

Mr. Ford is the former Chairman of board of the Detroit branch of the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank. He also is the former chairman of the National Advisory Board of The Salvation Army, Chairman of the Detroit 300 Conservancy, board member of the Henry Ford Automotive Hall of Fame, the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum and the Skillman Foundation.  He and his wife Cynthia are recipients of numerous humanitarian awards and were honored in 1996 by the National Society of Fundraising Executives as outstanding philanthropists.

Additionally, Mr. Ford is a member of the board of the International Speedway Corporation and is a life-long supporter and lover of Ford Motorsports.

Mr. Ford received a bachelor's degree in business administration from Babson College in 1973 and completed the Program for Management Development at the Harvard Business School in 1981.

“We are thrilled to honor Mr. Ford, whose ingenuity and achievement reflects the legacy of his family name,” said Robert Fogarty, President of Sport Chevrolet/Honda and Chairman of the 2013 Washington Auto Show.

The Keith Crain/Automotive News Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented at the close of the 2013 Washington Auto Show Public Policy Preview Day at The Walter E. Washington Convention Center, where thousands of industry and government leaders will convene for key announcements, networking and an evening Sneak Peek reception. The award presentation will begin with a reception at 7:30 p.m., followed by a dinner and program at 8:15 p.m.

Previous recipients of the Keith Crain/Automotive News Lifetime Achievement Award include: Roger Penske, Carroll Shelby, Ralph Nader and Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI).

The 2013 staging of the 70th Washington Auto Show in Washington, DC, known in the industry as “The Public Policy Show”, will offer a showcase of more than 700 vehicles from over 42 domestic and import manufacturers and a special exhibit of the world’s most luxurious rides.

To register for this special event, contact Kristina Henry, kh@wanada.org. 

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