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May 19, 2009 - Primary Election Day.

Les Ford has an extensive range of involvement in professional, civic and religious endeavors spanning over forty years. A representative sampling of his engagement, illustrating the breadth and depth of his experience is set forth below.

Preeminent among his many years of social and civic involvement, Les is deeply honored to have been a participant in the historic Selma-Montgomery March in 1965. Along with thousands of ordinary people - farmers, sharecroppers, maids and students, and with the pillars of the country's Civil Rights Movement: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rev. Dr. Ralph Abernathy, Rev. Walter Edward Fauntroy and others, he marched for the right to vote. All were joined in this historic human rights movement, viewed by many historians as the high-water mark that changed America's view of equal rights.

Les is an ordained elder in the Presbyterian Church. He is a member of the UWCR Tocqueville Society. In addition, he contributes generously to a number of organizations, both local and national.



Les currently serves as a member of the board of the Harrisburg Heinz Mennaker Senior Center.



Les is a former board member of the East Shore YMCA and has, for several years, sponsored a Martial Arts Summer Camp, free to all children in Harrisburg, for which he has recruited U.S. Olympic Team members as guest instructors. He also served as a senior instructor (sensei) of the YMCA of Greater Harrisburg’s judo program.

Les served as a member of the Harrisburg School District Board of Control and has served as a Sunday school and Christian youth advisor. For several years Les served as an emergency room volunteer as well.

For twenty-six years, Les has been married to Sheila Dow Ford, an attorney and businesswoman, with a strong background in education finance, law and policy and a resume of extensive civic involvement. Sheila has a public policy firm that researches and assists in developing policy on a number of local, state and national issues, with a strong emphasis on public education. She has co-authored a number of articles and monographs on a variety of topics, including a book on education law. She currently serves as a member of the PA State Board of Education.

Les is the proud father of three children and three grandchildren. His daughter, Ninette, is a graduate of Rutgers University, and holds a Masters Degree from the University of Illinois. Ninette lives in Springfield, Illinois with her husband, Robert, and their three children. She works in education services.

His son, Pasha, is a graduate of the University of Illinois. He lives in St. Croix, U.S.Virgin Islands, where he works in the restaurant industry.

His son, Aaron, is a graduate of Sci-Tech High in Harrisburg. Aaron currently attends Drexel University, where he is a third year student.