Thomas I Ford

Thomas Ford was a creative visionary in the field of film and video from the early days of live television and continuing into broadcast advertising, industrial and business video communications, cable television programs, and web-based productions. Over his long career in television and advertising, he created award-winning campaigns for many US Fortune 500 and international corporations, including American Express, American Home Products, Beech-Nut Foods, Bristol Meyers, General Electric, General Foods, General Mills, Goodyear, Gulf Oil, Johnson & Johnson, Lorillard, Owens-Corning, Olin Chemical, Philip Morris, and Proctor & Gamble, among others.

A pioneer in the television industry, Mr. Ford embarked on his professional career at Scripps-Howard’s WEWS-TV in Cleveland, Ohio, as senior producer/director. From 1947-1950, he produced and directed a wide range of original, live programming, including children’s (“Uncle Jake’s House”), comedy, dance, drama, musical, news, politics, sports and variety shows, as well as live on-air commercials. Among many broadcast “firsts” were the Cleveland Indians’ first telecast baseball season and Ohio’s first campaign telecast (Frank J. Lausche for governor) both in 1948. In 1950, he adapted, produced and directed a much-praised live broadcast of the Karamu Theatre’s production of Gian Carlo Menotti’s opera The Medium (with the composer’s full authorization) in what was likely the first televised full-length opera. Stan Anderson of The Cleveland Press wrote, “I have watched television for 26 months. During that time I have not seen anything with the impact ‘The Medium’ had. …a splendid artistic triumph.” (February 16, 1950); and from Variety, “Nothing done by the two-year-old WEWS could match this industrious project in professional finesse and stark entertainment power.” (February 22, 1950)

Returning to New York City, he worked as a director at CBS and ABC-TV where he directed live dramatic and musical variety programming for the network (“Billy Rose Show,” “Tom Corbet, Space Cadet”). In 1952, he moved into the advertising arena holding key creative positions in television advertising at leading New York advertising agencies for the next 30 years: VP producer/director/writer, Young & Rubicam (Beech-Nut Gum, Bufferin, Cheer, Kent Cigarettes, Goodyear); VP executive producer, Benton & Bowles (Bugles, Gravy Train, Pampers, Prell, Zest); VP creative production group head, Wells Rich Greene (Benson & Hedges); VP creative director Marsteller, Inc. (Dannon Yogurt). Later, he formed his own production company, PDS Communications, and continued to create cutting-edge advertising, marketing and promotion videos for cable television and internet web sites. Among his many projects, he wrote, produced and directed the original and innovative “Millennium Minute” mini-program series for Cablevision.

Thomas Ford won over fifty national and international television awards throughout his career, including Clios (advertising) and at the Cannes, Venice, Dublin, London and U.S. International (Hollywood) Film/TV Festivals; as well as four national business video Telly awards for American Express and March of Dimes cable television promotions. He was a member of the Directors Guild of America, acting unions AFTRA and SAG, and the Screen Writers Guild of America.

A popular and respected teacher of film and video technique, Mr. Ford taught television production at the Graduate School of Drama, Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, and at the State University of New York in Purchase, New York. In addition, he conducted production techniques seminars for Cablevision Systems’ local programming producers in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. His complete guide for amateur video moviemakers, Pro Techniques of Making Home Video Movies, was published by HP Books in 1986. Summing up his years of experience, he wrote: “Making creative video movies demands considerably more than a simple command for ‘Lights, Camera, Action!’ Although there are occasions for spontaneity and candid shooting, most movies benefit from a firm foundation. Just as a sturdy building is built brick by brick, so a good movie must be carefully put together shot by shot.”

Thomas Ford was an accomplished artist in many media, particularly pen and ink water color drawings. Throughout his life he created unique greetings cards and paintings for his immediate family and friends, many of which can be seen at the website: www.tomfordcards.com

Prior to moving to Chattanooga, Mr. Ford resided in Westchester County, New York, for over 50 years living in both Hartsdale and Harrison. He was Chairman of the Harrison NY Council for the Arts and the Harrison NY Telecommunications Committee, and a board member of the Harrison NY Chamber of Commerce for many years, among other civic activities. An avid fencer, tennis player and sailor, he was a member of the Coveleigh Club in Rye, NY, where he was Commodore for 23 years, as well as a long-time member of the Lawn Bowling Team.

Thomas Ignace Ford was born in Warsaw, Poland, on July 30, 1920, to George Fudakowski, a Polish nobleman, and Leonida Krajewski Fudakowski, an American citizen. He was the godson of Ignace Jan Paderewski, the renowned Polish pianist and diplomat. He came to the United States soon after and was raised in Greenwich, Connecticut, attending the Edgewood School from grades K-12. He graduated with high honors from Swarthmore College (’42), majoring in English, History and Psychology, and completed post-graduate studies in television directing and production at the American Theatre Wing Professional Graduate School in New York City (’47). A WWII veteran, he served in the US Army, assigned to the 96th Signal Battalion, and was posted to the China, Burma, India Theater from 1943-45.

Thomas Ford is survived by his wife of 65 years, Renée G. Ford; his daughters Suzanne (New York City and Chattanooga) and Lucile Ford Tullo (Montville, New Jersey); son-in-law Nicholas G. Tullo, MD; and three grandchildren Christopher, Alexander and Veronica Tullo. His brother George C. Ford of Princeton, New Jersey, pre-deceased him.

Arrangements are by the East Brainerd Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist.

For more information, contact Suzanne L. Ford at [email protected].