WESTFIELD — This year’s Westfield Memorial Day Parade Grand Marshal Jack Ford has always had a knack for people and public speaking. Whether it was to his teammates in high school, his troop in Vietnam, the Boys State for Post 3, or the many classrooms in which he taught during his 34-year education career, Mr. Ford has a way of inspiring people.

In July 1966, just one month after he graduated from Ridgefield High School, Mr. Ford was drafted into the Vietnam War. Mr. Ford’s father suggested that he take the Selective Service Qualification test, and when Mr. Ford took the test he excelled highly in administration. However, rather than go into officer training, Mr. Ford decided to enlist in the U.S. Army instead, which he did in October 1966.

Mr. Ford completed his basic training in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, his advance training in Personnel Administration, and then was stationed in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, as a training specialist at a demolition quarry.

In 1967, Mr. Ford was transferred to 1st Logistical Command in Long Binh Post, Vietnam, where he delivered top secret materials to the American Embassy. The drive from Long Binh Post to the American Embassy was a 22mile drive one way, and Mr. Ford often had to complete this drive multiple times a day. Mr. Ford had to do this drive by himself, where the threat of enemy ambush was always imminent. After one day finding bullet holes in his Jeep, he was able to always have backup with him.

Rather than be sent to a base in Oklahoma, Mr. Ford decided to extend for a second tour of duty in Vietnam in 1968 and was promoted to Specialist E-5 upon arriving back to Vietnam, after a mere 30 days in between his first and second tour. Mr. Ford was then promoted to training sergeant in the 14th Inventory Control Center.

In this role, Mr. Ford was able to give talks on military topics such as how to operate weapons and what not to do when off of work. He recalls being inspired by how well spoken many of his peers in the military were and was able to emulate that in his own presentations; another instance when Mr. Ford’s talent of speaking to and inspiring a crowd shined through.

During his second tour, the Tet Offensive started at Long Binh Post, where the North Vietnamese tried to break into the perimeter at the American post, as the North Vietnamese believed that in doing so would win them the war. For nearly a month, Mr. Ford and his troop bravely fought back and won against the North Vietnamese. It was his first time shooting a weapon outside of training, and Mr. Ford will never forget the fear of having the enemy firing back at him.

Mr. Ford was awarded a Vietnam service medal with three bronze service stars for his efforts in the Tet Offensive.

He was discharged from the Army in Oakland, California in 1969. Serving in the army was one of Mr. Ford’s proudest accomplishments to date.

“Being 19-years-old and in the army made me grow up fast,” Mr. Ford said. “The military taught me discipline, which was paramount to my success as an educator.”

When Mr. Ford was in high school, he played baseball and was captain of the football team, where he took a great liking to his coach/economics teacher, Mr. Mesano. Mr. Mesano was a great role model and inspiration for Mr. Ford. When Mr. Ford came home from Vietnam and was unsure of what his next steps should be, he went to Mr. Mesano. It was Mr. Mesano that made Mr. Ford realize that he had a way with people, and that he belonged in front of a classroom and as a coach. To this day, the two remain good friends.

Mr. Ford then enrolled at Montclair State University and graduated in 1973 with a B.A. in Distributive Education and soon after began his teaching career in September 1973 at Arthur L. Johnson High School in Clark. He taught Marketing, Management, and Business Law, and also coached baseball, track and golf. He also supervised a work study program, where he was able to find many students jobs that would benefit them in their future careers. Additionally, Mr. Ford was an adjunct professor at Middlesex Community College and Brookdale Community College. Mr. Ford went on to earn his Master’s Degree in Business Education in 1978, as well as go beyond 30 credits, the highest pay scale behind a doctorate.

Mr. Ford was passionate about teaching and took it very seriously. When all vocational classes were eliminated at the high school Mr. Ford taught at, he was able to fight and keep those classes and his job. His efforts as an educator never went unnoticed, and in 1992 he was awarded the Governor’s Teacher Recognition for Arthur L. Johnson High School, where he received a certificate of commendation from Governor James Florio at Princeton University. Only one person earns that award each year. Moreover, in 1997 Ford was awarded Marketing Teacher of the Year for Central N.J. Though he retired from teaching in 2007, in 2019 he was inducted into the Arthur L. Johnson High School Hall of Fame for Distinguished Faculty. He is proud to have his name memorialized inside the school forever.

Outside of the classroom and off the field, Mr. Ford was in the Clark Rotary Club for many years, serving as its president in 1981. He also has been an American Legion member for over 50 years, as well as a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars and Vietnam Veterans of America. Mr. Ford is involved in Knights of Columbus, and is a third degree knight. He has also been the Chairman of Boys State for Post 3 for 16 years, and he is retiring after this year. This position has allowed Mr. Ford to mentor young boys and get them leadership experience. He is still in contact with many of the young men that this program has benefited.

Mr. Ford loves to give back to his community. The government was able to pay for his education, and Mr. Ford earned money with each degree he received. “If it wasn’t for [the government and the U.S. army], my parents would not have been able to send me to college,” he said. This inspires Mr. Ford to always donate to veterans when he can.

Mr. Ford’s hobbies include golf, swimming and traveling. Outside of coaching golf, Mr. Ford has been in many golf leagues over the years and has five holes in ones. He belongs to a swim club and one of his favorite places that he and his wife travel to is Florida, having gone to Naples and Tampa this past winter.

Mr. Ford is married to his loving wife Mary and they have three grown children and three grandsons. He lives in Mountainside and has a summer home in Long Beach Island.

When asked to give advice to someone who aspires to be an educator, Mr. Ford said “You have to really, really want to do it. It’s not great pay, same with coaching, and you have to be very disciplined, but there’s no better feeling.”