Dale Ford
Encyclopedia
Robert Dale Ford is a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives
representing the 6th district, which is composed of parts of Washington County and Hawkins County
. He is a member of the Agriculture and Transportation Committees.
He lives in Jonesborough with his wife Joyce. He has 5 children. He is an Army veteran.
He is a member the Hawthorne Church of the Brethren located in Johnson City, TN near Austin Springs,TN .
in the American League
from 1974 until 1999 (wearing uniform number 20 when the AL adopted them in 1980) when he, along with several other umpires, was not retained by Major League Baseball
following their resignations as part of a failed union bargaining strategy. After having had a successful career, Ford decided he was ready to retire. He was given retirement in 2001. He was well known for being behind the plate for Game 6 of the 1986 World Series
, known for Bill Buckner
's error; for tossing Baltimore Orioles
Manager Earl Weaver
out of a game during the National Anthem; and for ejecting Reggie Jackson
from a game only to have Jackson begin throwing all the contents of the dugout onto the playing field. During his career, he was rated between first and twenty-fifth. Ford said "When umpires are rated low, you know they haven't kissed up to anyone." When looking back on his MLB service, Rep. Ford says, "For an old country boy with no particular brains and definitely not good looking, I felt like that was OK."
During his umpiring career, umpire union leader and Philadelphia attorney Richie Phillips brought a lawsuit against New York Yankees
manager Billy Martin
when Martin stated that Ford was a "stone liar, someone I'll bet $100 doesn't know how to read." Ford later sued the Texas Rangers
after he fell while leaving Arlington Stadium
. Ford also sued Major League Baseball for retirement pay and interest; he was one of the umpires who were not rehired in the wake of the union's failed 1999 resignation strategy.
primary
for Tennessee State Representative District 6 against an incumbent, David Davis. Davis edged Ford by a margin of 3,783-3,524. Following his defeat, Ford said, "I really don't have a desire in pursuing it again. The way the political system is in this country, it's hard to get anything done."
In 2006, after Davis announced he would not run again but would instead seek the US House
District 1 seat for Tennessee, Ford again ran for State Representative. This time he ran against Joshua Arrowood, Ethan Flynn, Patti Jarrett, Michael Malone, and Lee Sowers in the Republican primary.
There was no opposition in the general election.
Rep. Ford has worked closely with Tennessee's governor, Governor Phil Bredesen and has made many improvements to his district. He has worked tirelessly on water and road issues that were greatly needed. In addition, he has made great strides in improving the quality of living for the residents of the community. He works closely with the elderly, veteran issues, and devotes many hours of his time volunteering for causes to aid the people in his district.
He received an 'A' rating from the NRA
, despite his support for strong gun control laws He also signed the Americans For Tax Reform Pledge to 'oppose and vote against all efforts to increase taxes'; however, he supports increasing the state budget and increasing taxes on alcohol, tobacco, and internet sales. He voted in committee to increase taxes on cigarettes (which is a disregard of his pledge against all tax increases).
Ford's office surveyed more than 100 people in his district, and almost ninety percent was in favor of some sort of tobacco tax. They were also in support of a smoke free work environment and smoke free restaurants. Ford stated he promised his constituents that he would vote the way the majority wanted him to. Ford insists that if he does not do that, he feels he has lied to his constituents. (NO CITATION)
Tennessee House of Representatives
The Tennessee House of Representatives is the lower house of the Tennessee General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Tennessee.-Constitutional requirements:...
representing the 6th district, which is composed of parts of Washington County and Hawkins County
Hawkins County, Tennessee
Hawkins County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2010, the population was 56,833. Its county seat is Rogersville, Tennessee's second-oldest town....
. He is a member of the Agriculture and Transportation Committees.
He lives in Jonesborough with his wife Joyce. He has 5 children. He is an Army veteran.
He is a member the Hawthorne Church of the Brethren located in Johnson City, TN near Austin Springs,TN .
Umpiring career
Ford was an umpireUmpire (baseball)
In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump...
in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
from 1974 until 1999 (wearing uniform number 20 when the AL adopted them in 1980) when he, along with several other umpires, was not retained by Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
following their resignations as part of a failed union bargaining strategy. After having had a successful career, Ford decided he was ready to retire. He was given retirement in 2001. He was well known for being behind the plate for Game 6 of the 1986 World Series
1986 World Series
The 1986 World Series pitted the New York Mets against the Boston Red Sox. It was cited in the legend of the "Curse of the Bambino" to explain the error by Bill Buckner in Game 6 that allowed the Mets to extend the series to a seventh game...
, known for Bill Buckner
Bill Buckner
William Joseph Buckner is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. Despite winning a batting crown in , representing the Chicago Cubs at the All-Star Game the following season and accumulating over 2,700 hits in his twenty-year career, he is best remembered for a fielding error during Game 6...
's error; for tossing Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
Manager Earl Weaver
Earl Weaver
Earl Sidney Weaver is a former Major League Baseball manager. He spent his entire 17-year managerial career with the Baltimore Orioles . Weaver was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996.-Playing career:After playing for Beaumont High School in St...
out of a game during the National Anthem; and for ejecting Reggie Jackson
Reggie Jackson
Reginald Martinez "Reggie" Jackson , nicknamed "Mr. October" for his clutch hitting in the postseason with the New York Yankees, is a former American Major League Baseball right fielder. During a 21-year baseball career, he played from 1967-1987 for four different teams. Jackson currently serves as...
from a game only to have Jackson begin throwing all the contents of the dugout onto the playing field. During his career, he was rated between first and twenty-fifth. Ford said "When umpires are rated low, you know they haven't kissed up to anyone." When looking back on his MLB service, Rep. Ford says, "For an old country boy with no particular brains and definitely not good looking, I felt like that was OK."
During his umpiring career, umpire union leader and Philadelphia attorney Richie Phillips brought a lawsuit against New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
manager Billy Martin
Billy Martin
Alfred Manuel "Billy" Martin, Jr. was an American Major League Baseball second baseman and manager. He is best known as the manager of the New York Yankees, a position he held five different times...
when Martin stated that Ford was a "stone liar, someone I'll bet $100 doesn't know how to read." Ford later sued the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
after he fell while leaving Arlington Stadium
Arlington Stadium
Arlington Stadium was a baseball stadium located in Arlington, Texas, United States, located between Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. It served as the home for the Texas Rangers from 1972 until 1993, when the team moved into The Ballpark in Arlington .-1960s:The stadium was built in 1965 as Turnpike...
. Ford also sued Major League Baseball for retirement pay and interest; he was one of the umpires who were not rehired in the wake of the union's failed 1999 resignation strategy.
Political career
In 2002, Ford ran in the RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
for Tennessee State Representative District 6 against an incumbent, David Davis. Davis edged Ford by a margin of 3,783-3,524. Following his defeat, Ford said, "I really don't have a desire in pursuing it again. The way the political system is in this country, it's hard to get anything done."
In 2006, after Davis announced he would not run again but would instead seek the US House
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
District 1 seat for Tennessee, Ford again ran for State Representative. This time he ran against Joshua Arrowood, Ethan Flynn, Patti Jarrett, Michael Malone, and Lee Sowers in the Republican primary.
There was no opposition in the general election.
Political philosophy
He is pro-life. Fiscally, he claims to be interested in increasing the state budget tremendously for education, emergency preparedness, law enforcement, health care, and welfare. He is also for increasing taxes on alcohol and tobacco. He also seeks a tax on internet sales. He supports the limits of contributions that can be given to candidates, though many claim that this goes against 1st Amendment rights and is a protection for incumbents. He hopes to end 'working the polls' by candidates and their workers. He supports increased pensions for law enforcement officers. He is a supporter of hate-crime laws. He is for nationalized education and against school choice. He supports minimum wage increases. He supports strong gun laws.\Rep. Ford has worked closely with Tennessee's governor, Governor Phil Bredesen and has made many improvements to his district. He has worked tirelessly on water and road issues that were greatly needed. In addition, he has made great strides in improving the quality of living for the residents of the community. He works closely with the elderly, veteran issues, and devotes many hours of his time volunteering for causes to aid the people in his district.
He received an 'A' rating from the NRA
National Rifle Association
The National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit 501 civil rights organization which advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection...
, despite his support for strong gun control laws He also signed the Americans For Tax Reform Pledge to 'oppose and vote against all efforts to increase taxes'; however, he supports increasing the state budget and increasing taxes on alcohol, tobacco, and internet sales. He voted in committee to increase taxes on cigarettes (which is a disregard of his pledge against all tax increases).
Ford's office surveyed more than 100 people in his district, and almost ninety percent was in favor of some sort of tobacco tax. They were also in support of a smoke free work environment and smoke free restaurants. Ford stated he promised his constituents that he would vote the way the majority wanted him to. Ford insists that if he does not do that, he feels he has lied to his constituents. (NO CITATION)
External links
- Official legislature site
- Retrosheet - umpiring career
- BaseballLibrary - profile, career highlights and SABR bibliography
- AP: "Former Umpire Playing Political Hardball"