September 3, 2004

Rep. William D. Ford Dies at 77

By STEPHEN BURD

Former U.S. Rep. William D. Ford of Michigan, who is widely considered to be the father of the direct student-loan program, died in August of complications from a stroke he suffered earlier this summer. He was 77.

Mr. Ford spent his entire 30-year Congressional career as a member of the House of Representatives Committee on Education and Labor, the panel (subsequently renamed) in charge of drafting higher-education policy. He became chairman in 1991 and served in that post until he

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