Sheila Ford Hamp Husband
Meet Sheila Ford Hamp husband Steve Hamp! Mrs. Sheila Ford Hamp is the owner and chairwoman of the Detroit Lions; she has been hailed as the team’s hero by fans all over.
Sheila Hamp, replaced her mother Martha Firestone Ford as Lions’s chairwoman when she stepped down in 2020. Martha Firestone Ford took over the Lions in 2014. Sheila’s father William Ford (Henry Ford’s grandson) a Yale graduate and varsity tennis player passed away in 2014 at the age of 88, he purchased the Lions in 1963 for $4.5 million.
Steve Hamp
Steven Kautz Hamp (b. April 03, 1948) is actively involved in various projects and institutions in Detroit and southeast Michigan, with a primary focus on enhancing the K-12 educational landscape for Detroit families, fostering new economic development opportunities, and contributing to a vibrant arts and culture environment. He is a key player in More Good Schools, a collaborative effort with Doug Ross, and serves as the chair of the board for the New Economy Initiative and the Cultural Alliance of Southeastern Michigan.
Additionally, Hamp is a board member of the Kresge Foundation and operates Hamp Advisors, a private consulting firm. His engagement extends to several other boards, including The Henry Ford, the National Portrait Gallery, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the Henry Ford Learning Institute, Michigan Future, and the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. Hamp also holds positions on the boards of Visteon Corporation, ShoreBank Corporation, and McKinley Corporation.
Before his current endeavors, Mr. Hamp held the role of vice president and chief of staff at Ford Motor Company, where he provided guidance to Ford Chairman and CEO William Clay Ford Jr. His earlier career spanned 27 years at The Henry Ford, where he distinguished himself and served as the institution’s president from 1996 to 2005.
In recognition of his contributions, Mr. Hamp was named Michiganian of the Year by the Detroit News in 1999 and received the Helen and William Milliken Distinguished Service Award from the Michigan Environmental Council in 2000. He holds an Honorary Doctorate of Law from the University of Michigan and received the Civic Leader Award from the Governor’s Art Awards in 2002.
Educationally, Mr. Hamp earned a B.A. in American History from Butler University, an M.A. in Folklore and Folklife from Indiana University, and an M.M.P. (Master of Museum Practice) from the University of Michigan.
Steve Hamp and his wife Sheila Ford Hamp, met in her 20’s when she moved back home from Boston and started working at the Henry Ford Museum. They reside in Ann Arbor and have three sons, Peter (b. 1988) now married to Leela Mirafzali Hamp , Michael (b. 1984) and Christopher Hamp (b. 1985), now married to Nicole Ferszt Hamp, M.D.
During his time at the Museum Steven K. Hamp, served as the head of the Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village in Dearborn, he was instrumental in revitalizing the independent educational institution founded by Henry Ford in 1929. As president since 1996, Mr. Hamp initiated significant renovations, addressing issues like leaks and aging infrastructure. A $42-million capital campaign, led by him, funded crucial improvements such as thermal windows, a new roof, and a climate control system aimed at preserving the museum’s valuable collection of antiques and artifacts.
Steve Hamp’s impact went beyond maintenance, evident in notable additions like a $15-million IMAX theater featuring Disney’s Fantasia/2000 on a giant 3-D screen. His efforts reflect a commitment to serving a broad audience, as observed by Marilyn Wheaton, director of Detroit’s cultural affairs department. Hamp’s regional contributions extend to chairing the Southeastern Michigan Cultural Coalition, fostering collaboration among major cultural institutions. Margaret Tallet, president of the Music Hall, praises Mr. Hamp’s leadership, describing him as a visionary who encourages thinking beyond boundaries and emphasizes collaboration over competition.
Despite his ties to the Ford family through his wife, Sheila, Steve Hamp’s success was attributed to his merit rather than family connections. William Clay Ford Jr., Sheila’s brother and the complex’s chairman, commends Hamp as “exceptionally dynamic.” Hamp’s educational background, having taught high school history and social studies before joining the museum in 1978, underscores his commitment to education. One of his notable achievements is the establishment of the Henry Ford Academy, a charter high school on the museum campus in partnership with Ford Motor Co., offering a unique educational experience for 300 students with tuition covered by the state. Hamp sees the academy as a source of inspiration for students, recognizing the unparalleled value of the museum’s collections.
Sheila Ford Hamp Parents
Martha Firestione Ford
Martha Firestone Ford, born on September 16, 1925, in Cleveland, Ohio, is an American businesswoman and former owner and chairperson of the Detroit Lions in the NFL. She is also a board member of the Henry Ford Health System. Martha is the daughter of Harvey S. Firestone Jr. and Elizabeth Parke Firestone, with her lineage tracing back to the founder of Firestone Tire and Rubber Co., Harvey Samuel Firestone. She graduated from Vassar College in 1946.
Following the death of her husband, William Clay Ford Sr., on March 9, 2014, Martha inherited controlling interest in the Detroit Lions, making her the majority owner of the team. Her husband had been the sole owner since 1963. Ford became one of the ten women who owned NFL teams during her ownership tenure. On June 23, 2020, she stepped down as the Lions’ owner, passing the reins to her daughter Sheila Ford Hamp. Martha and William, who married in 1947, had four children: Martha Parke Morse, Sheila Ford Hamp, William Clay Ford Jr., and Elizabeth Ford Kontulis. William served as the chairman of the board of directors of Ford Motor Company.
Martha Firestone Ford’s life is intertwined with a rich family legacy, marked by her marriage to William Clay Ford, a grandson of Henry Ford. Their union in 1947 was a celebrated event, characterized as one of Akron’s most significant society weddings. Martha’s husband passing lead her to assume leadership of the Detroit Lions until she passed the ownership torch to her daughter Sheila Ford Hamp. The Firestone-Ford family’s affluence and prominence in business are evident in their connections, including notable figures like J. Edgar Hoover, John S. Knight, and Mina Miller Edison, who presented gifts at their wedding.
William Clay Ford
William Clay Ford, born on March 14, 1925, in Detroit to Edsel Ford and Eleanor Lowthian Clay, led a remarkable life marked by achievements in business, sports, and philanthropy. Graduating from the Hotchkiss School in 1943, Ford served in the U.S. Navy Air Corps during World War II. He later earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Yale University in 1949, where he excelled as a collegiate athlete, captain of the soccer and tennis teams, and received seven varsity letters.
He married Martha Parke Firestone, the granddaughter of Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. founder Harvey Firestone. Ford’s entry into the business world included work at the Ford Motor Company, where he briefly led the Continental Division. Notably, he redesigned the Lincoln Continental, a vehicle his father created, leading to the release of the Continental Mark II in 1955. Ford’s involvement with Ford Motor Company extended to serving on the board for 57 years, retiring in 2005.
Beyond his automotive endeavors, Ford was a minority owner and team president of the Detroit Lions since 1961. He gained total control of the franchise in 1963, overseeing the team’s performance and briefly chairing the Detroit Cougars, a professional soccer team. His contributions to design, philanthropy, and historic preservation, including serving as chairman of the board at the Henry Ford Museum, reflected his multifaceted engagement.
Ford’s impact extended to the maritime realm, with an iron ore-hauling ship named SS William Clay Ford in his honor in 1952. A prominent figure, Ford was ranked as the 371st richest person in the U.S. by Forbes in 2013, with an approximate net worth of $1.4 billion. He passed away on March 9, 2014, at the age of 88, leaving behind a legacy of contributions to business, sports, and community service.
Sheila Ford Hamp Detroit Lions
On June 30, 2020, the Detroit Lions officially declared that Sheila Ford Hamp would succeed her mother, Martha Firestone Ford, as the team’s principal owner and chairman.
Sheila Ford Hamp’s extensive involvement in the Lions organization includes serving as a vice chairperson since 2014. Additionally, she actively participates in the NFL’s Super Bowl and Major Events Committee and serves on the board for Detroit Lions Charities. Alongside her husband, Sheila co-chairs the board of the Purple Rose Theatre Company in Chelsea. She holds positions on various family business-related boards, including The Henry Ford (as vice-chairman), the Ford Motor Company Fund, and the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House.
Sheila Ford Hamp College
A graduate of Yale’s pioneering class of women in 1973, Sheila continued her education with a master’s in teaching and early childhood education from Boston University. In her youth, she excelled in varsity tennis at Yale and competed at the national level as a junior, clinching the Michigan state title at the age of 17, as mentioned in her Lions bio.
Sheila Ford Hamp Net Worth
As of 2024 and according to reliable sources, Sheila Ford Hamp’s family net worth has been estimated at $2 billion.
