Reps. Woronchak and Hood offered the following resolution:

House Resolution No. 301.

A resolution recognizing the significant contributions Henry Ford made to education, particularly in technical training.

Whereas, Henry Ford is honored as the “Father of Industrial Education” by the Henry Ford Trade School Alumni Association; and

Whereas, He has served as a great role model for generations to come leaving a legacy and creating opportunities that previously did not exist; and

Whereas, The Henry Ford Trade School was started by Henry Ford in Highland Park in 1916 with one instructor and six underprivileged and disadvantaged boys.  It provided the students with the opportunity to change their lives from working in unskilled jobs to become highly skilled craftsman; and

Whereas, Mr. Ford and School Superintendent Dr. Frederick E. Searle, pioneered the modern concept of vocational training that combined on-the-job shop training with related formal classroom instruction; and

Whereas, Due to the popularity and success of the trade school by 1920, enrollment had grown to 400 students with a waiting list of 6,000 applicants.  It was then moved in 1932 from Highland Park to the Rouge Complex in Dearborn where greater educational opportunities could be provided; and

Whereas, At the Rouge Complex, the enrollment peaked at about 2,800 students and 135 instructors; and

Whereas, When the school closed in 1952, a grant of $1 million was made by the Trade School Board of Trustees from the Henry and Clara Ford Estate to Dearborn Junior College.  In honor of the donation, the college was renamed Henry Ford Community College; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body recognize Mr. Henry Ford for the legacy left by the founding of the Trade School to further educated students, particularly in technical training; and be it further

Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Henry Ford Community College and to the Henry Ford Trade School Alumni Association for the dedication of the statue of Mr. Henry Ford on September 28, 2004.