Dorothy Bowles Ford is renowned as the mother of famous author, economic director, and ex-congressman Harold Ford Jr. She was known as the wife of Harold Ford Sr., the first African-American who was elected as Tennessee congressional representative.
Dorothy Bowles Ford Profile Summary
Full name: Dorothy Bowles Ford
Gender: Female
Age: Mid-70s (as of 2023)
Nationality: American
Ethnicity: African-American
Marital status: Divorced
Ex-husband: Harold Eugene Ford Sr
Children: Harold Jr, John Newton, and Sir Isaac
Religion: Christianity
Who is Dorothy Bowles Ford?
The matriarch of the Ford family, Dorothy Ford, is the mother of Harold Ford Jr and the former spouse of Harold Eugene Ford Sr. These two men are both eminent American legislators and former Representatives for the city of Memphis, Tennessee.
Ford Sr was the one to initiate a long-standing tradition of African-American representation in Congress from Memphis, Tennessee’s 9th district. He held the seat for 11 consecutive terms (22 years), from 1975 until his retirement in 1997. Subsequently, his son filled the same role for 10 years, from 1997 to 2007.
Career
Dorothy Bowles Ford, the mother of Harold Ford Jr., was a worker at Potomac Electric Power. She had an expansive understanding of the customer requirements and implemented a range of progressive concepts.
Aside from her professional accomplishments, Dorothy Ford was commendably responsible for handling the administrative matters of her former husband, Harold Ford Sr – the first African-American to serve as a US Representative.
She was also an active member of the political scene while married. She worked to promote the good of the public by assisting the Department of Agriculture to improve school lunch programs.
Personal Life
Dorothy was tied in matrimony to her former spouse Harold for thirty years. Dorothy and Harold initially encountered one another while going to school. In no time, they were infatuated and on February 10, 1969, they professed their love in a secret wedding.
Following their nuptials, they lived joyfully together for many years, developing a deep understanding and appreciation for each other. Dorothy became an invaluable support to her spouse, not only as a partner in life but also in a professional capacity, actively aiding him in his endeavors.
Dorothy, along with her former spouse, had three sons: Harold Ford Jr., Newton ‘Jake’ Ford, and Isaac Ford, who were all greeted into their family.
She shared,
Often constituents will call at all times during the day and night. I end up helping them solve their problems when Harold is not available- somebody has to do it.
Ford praised Dorothy as “inspiring, guiding and able to weather the storm.” Despite their perfect fit, the two parted ways after three decades of matrimony in 1999.
The ex-couple remained tight-lipped about the cause of their split. They got divorced on friendly terms, due to irreconcilable differences. Dorothy Bowles Ford managed to bypass any court hearing and quickly settled the terms.
Harold Ford Sr. and Michelle Roberts tied the knot in 1999, shortly after his divorce from Dorothy. Michelle previously served as the executive director of the National Basketball Players Association. The couple are blessed with two children, Andrew and Ava, and are contentedly married to this day.
On the other hand, Dorothy Bowles seems to be still single. Since she parted from the former congressman, she has been leading a private life.
Kids
Out of Dorothy Bowles Ford’s three children, Isaac has remained relatively unknown, while Newton has been much more in the limelight due to his brushes with the law, such as the DUI and marijuana possession charges. Additionally, he has been involved in several activities sponsored by the US Congress.
In addition, Harold Junior is her eldest son who took up his father’s mantle when he joined Congress.
At the age of 23, Dorothy’s eldest son began a career in politics. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, he was employed by the Senate Budget Committee.
After getting his law degree, he ran for the 12th term in Congress and gained notoriety in the political world. From 1997 to 2007, he was a part of the Democratic party from Tennessee’s 9th congressional district.
Apart from his political career, he also works as the Managing Director for Morgan Stanley. Additionally, he is a renowned author, Pundit, and political commentator on FOX News.
Dorothy Bowles Ford’s Net Worth
It has been estimated that Dorothy has a net worth of at least $1 million. Harold Ford Jr, her son, is believed to have a fortune of $3 million, while her ex-husband, Harold Ford Sr, has an estimated net worth between $1 million and $6 million.