Grand Rapids, Mich. – Hometown pals. Jocks. Family. Government leaders.
The honorary pallbearers at Gerald R. Ford’s burial in Grand Rapids today represent the broad interests of his 93 years on Earth.
“They were close political friends, colleagues and friends who helped to build the museum,” said Tim Pietryga, spokesman for the Ford Foundation, which runs the former president’s museum and library.
Ford had asked the 14 to be honorary pallbearers – walking behind the flag-draped casket – as part of the funeral plan he prepared. A military detail handles the casket.
Among his pallbearers are friends from his old days in Grand Rapids:
Peter Secchia, a former U.S. ambassador to Italy, has counted Ford among his friends for decades.
Richard DeVos co-founded Amway Corp., based in nearby Ada. He’s the father of former gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos.
Fred Meijer is chairman emeritus of Meijer Inc. His father started the first Meijer store during the Great Depression.
University of Michigan president Mary Sue Coleman will represent his link to the university, where Ford got his undergraduate degree and played football. The jet flying Ford’s casket from Washington to Michigan on Tuesday did a fly-over of the stadium in Ann Arbor on its way to Grand Rapids.
Ford had asked legendary Wolverines football coach Bo Schembechler to be in the honorary group, but Schembechler died in November. In his honor, officials planned to drape a University of Michigan banner across a seat that Schembechler would have occupied at Grace Episcopal Church at today’s funeral service.
Ford was an avid sportsman well into his senior years and had asked for his legendary golf buddy, Jack Nicklaus, to be included in the service.
Pepi Granshammer, a former Austrian national ski-team member who co-founded the Vail ski area where the Fords had a home, also will be in the ceremonial escort.
The other Ford honorary pallbearers:
Martin Allen Jr., chairman emeritus, Gerald R. Ford Foundation.
Richard Ford, the president’s brother.
David Frey, philanthropist and bank executive.
Robert Hooker, philanthropist and retired business executive.
Bill Seidman, Ford’s White House assistant for economic policy.
Steve Van Andel, chairman, Alticor Inc.
Leon Parma, president, Parma Management Co. Inc.
