Lions Owner William Clay Ford Passes Away This Morning At Age 88

Lions Owner & Chair William Clay Ford died this morning at the age of 88, according to Ford Motor Co. He bought the Lions for $6M in the fall of '63 and "has run the organization for the past 50 years." He was known by players and execs within the organization and across the league "for his uncommon wealth and generosity" (FREEP.com, 3/9).

Ford "was the last surviving grandchild" of Ford Motor Co. Founder Henry Ford. William Clay Ford "had been in poor health the last couple of years and has stayed mostly out of the public eye." His son, team Vice Chair Bill Ford Jr., "has in recent years taken on most of the ownership responsibilities of the team." Only Bills Owner Ralph Wilson "owned a team longer than Ford" (DETROITNEWS.com, 3/9).