Substitute for House Resolution No. 127. 

            A resolution to declare July 30, 2013, as Henry Ford Day in the state of Michigan.

            Whereas, Henry Ford was born in Wayne County, Michigan, on July 30, 1863,  in an area that later became Dearborn. He demonstrated early in his life a propensity for mechanical aptitude by repairing people’s watches and learning to fix steam engines and run mill operations; and

            Whereas, Henry Ford focused on further innovations related to the internal combustion engine, including developing his own vehicle, the Quadricycle, and founding the Detroit Automobile Company in 1899; and

            Whereas,  Then 39-year-old Henry Ford and 11 associates, armed with little cash, some tools, a few blueprints and unbounded optimism, launched the Ford Motor Company on June 16, 1903, in a small converted wagon factory on a spur of the Michigan Central Railroad in Detroit; and

            Whereas, He led the development of the company's first commercial automobile in 1903. This was the original 8-horsepower, 2-cylinder Model A vehicle with a 2-speed transmission, 28-inch wheels with wooden spokes and 3-inch tires; and

            Whereas, Henry Ford and his engineers developed numerous models named after the letters of the alphabet between 1903 and 1908, with some of the models being only experimental and not available to the public; and

            Whereas, Henry Ford introduced the Model T (also known as the “Tin Lizzie”) on October 1, 1908, which could be reconfigured by buyers to move cattle, haul freight, herd horses, and even mow lawns. Ford produced 10,660 Model T vehicles its first model year, an industry record; and

            Whereas, Henry Ford led the development of the first moving assembly line in 1913, beginning a new era of industrial progress and growth; and

            Whereas, Henry Ford established a new standard in 1914 by setting Ford’s minimum wage at $5 for an 8-hour workday, which replaced the prior $2.34 wage for a 9-hour day and helped develop a middle-class workforce that could afford to buy the products they made; and

            Whereas, Henry Ford saw his automobiles as a way toward opening the highways to all mankind by exporting vehicles and operating or selling them in more than 30 countries, including China, Brazil and much of Europe. He  was an early proponent of using renewable materials such as soybeans in car parts and fostered employment policies that created opportunities for those with physical or mental challenges; and

            Whereas, Henry Ford, with an eye to simplicity, efficiency, and affordability, ordered in 1914 that the Model T use black paint exclusively because it dried faster than other colors. This allowed cars to be built daily at a lower cost, as Ford said the vehicle will be offered in “any color so long as it is black”; and

            Whereas, The Rouge manufacturing complex allowed for the complete production of vehicles from raw materials processing to final assembly and was an icon of the 20th century; and

            Whereas, Henry Ford, in response to consumer demand for more power, pioneered the first Ford vehicle with a V-8 engine block cast in 1 piece on March 9, 1932, and 

            Whereas, While Ford offered only 2 automotive brands (Ford and Lincoln) through 1937, Ford introduced the first Mercury in 1938 due to increased competition. This car, with a distinctive streamlined body style, a V-8 engine with more horsepower than a Ford, and hydraulic brakes, filled the void between the low-priced Ford and the high-priced Lincoln; and

            Whereas, All civilian auto production in the United States ceased on February 10, 1942, by government decree and with Ford's full support. Ford, under the control of the War Production Board, produced an extensive array of tanks, B-24 aircraft, armored cars, amphibious craft, gliders and other materials for the World War II war effort; and

              Whereas, Henry Ford passed away on April 7, 1947, and to this day his legacy of innovation continues to inspire commitment to a strong business, great products, and a better world; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare July 30, 2013, as Henry Ford Day in the state of Michigan. We recognize his pioneering and uniquely American spirit and innovation that put the world on wheels, and honor his contribution to significant social and economic progress in the United States and many other nations. His legacy includes the moving assembly line to create automobiles for the masses, doubling of wages for his workers which in turn helped create a middle class that continues to be the backbone of America today, and successfully implementing sustainable materials to build and power his vehicles.