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THE HISTORIC STRATER HOTEL PRESENTS

ROOM 333: PRESIDENT GERALD R. FORD

38TH PRESIDENT OF THE FROM 1974-1977 REPUBLICAN. MARRIED TO BETTY BLOOMER, 4 CHILDREN. BORN UNDER THE NAME : LESLIE LYNCH KING, JR., IN OMAHA . 16 DAYS AFTER HIS BIRTH HIS PARENTS SEPARATED. HIS MOTHER REMARRIED LATER TO GERALD RUDOLFF FORD. LESLIE’S NAME WAS CHANGED IN 1935 AND HE GREW UP IN GRAND RAPIDS, .

HOW DID HE COME TO THE STRATER HOTEL? Former President Gerald owner of the Durango & During that trip and his business Silverton NG Rail- and Betty attended the partner road),Governor Richard dedication of the Animas purchased the local Durango Lamm and former Mayor Museum, where Betty was a radio stations KIUP-AM Ian Thompson. On the speaker. Ford was the only (930) and KRSJ-FM (100.5) same visit, he helped open President to ever visit the in 1979. Ford visited the back nine holes at the Animas Museum. Durango three times Hillcrest Golf course. Ford’s final visit to Durango between 1979 and 1997. “Ford was the first to tee off was in 1997 when Fordstone He and his wife stayed at on the tenth hole”, said merged with another company the Strater Hotel on two Duane Smith, local historian to form Four Corners of these visits in room 333. and Professor at Fort Lewis Broadcasting. It was said On his first trip he came for College. “There were that Ford “had a general President & Mrs. Gerald R. the transfer of ownership of people lining the fairway good sense of community, Ford on the north side of the radio stations. On his and, well, he had been not only to Colorado but the Strater Hotel with then second trip, he came to cele- known to hit spectators-but to Durango.” owner Earl Barker, Jr. brate Durango’s Centennial he put the on the tee, (second to end on left.) on August 13, 1980. He took a mighty swing, and was in a parade on Main the ball went straight down Ave. with Louis and Kathy the fairway. He had the L’Amour, Centennial biggest smile I ever saw on SPECIAL POINTS OF Queen Marion Jarvis, Gerald Ford’s face. He was INTEREST: Charles Bradshaw (former a real human being.” President Ford was an avid football fan and played college football at the University of Michi- TIMELINE OF A PRESIDENT’S LIFE gan 1932-1934. Born , 1913. House of Representatives Sep. 8– Nixon Ford received the Distin- 1935-Graduates from the 1963-64– Serves on Warren Nov. 2, 1976-Loses guished Eagle Scout Award in 1970 and is the Commission investigating election to only U.S. president who the of Presi- 1942-46-Serves in U.S. Oct. 27, 1999– Receives was an Eagle Scout. dent Kennedy Naval Reserve Congressional Gold Medal Ford was a graduate of Aug. 9, 1974– Becomes Oct. 15, 1948– Marries Dec. 26, 2006-Dies at age . President after Richard wife Betty 93 in his home from mini- Nixon resigns Ford was a Lieutenant strokes and pneumonia Nov. 2, 1948– Elected to U.S. Commander in WW II.

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