Richard L. “Dick” Ford (’64) was born in Sidney, MT in 1940, but mostly grew up in Bozeman. In High School Dick played football, basketball, and ran track. He was offered a walk-on scholarship to the UM football team and once in Missoula he joined the SAE Fraternity (after first joining Sig Ep and dropping after realizing his mistake!).
Dick met his sweetheart, Maureen, in Missoula, asked her to marry him in the SAE living room, got married at a church near the University, and had his wedding reception back at the SAE living room! He always claimed he got married for under $100 bucks!
After college his career took him to Northern California for the next 30 years where he raised his family, but the call to reunite with his SAE brothers and help the chapter came in the early 80’s and he answered that call! Dick became very active on the housing board, energized the alumni association, and helped with chapter membership. In 2005, Dick was instrumental in fundraising nearly $800,000 for a major remodel of the chapter house including upgrading electrical, plumbing, re-configuring rooms and bathrooms, adding the handicap elements, and bringing everyhing up to code. He saw the high’s and the low’s of the chapters membership but always remainded steadfast in his belief that our fraternity built strong leaders and developed meaningful lifelong friendships and worked hard to keep it going strong. He was the glue that spanned many generations of Montana Beta alumni and he donated his time for literally decades right up until his death in 2025.
In gratitude, we named our Active Chapter, the Richard L. “Dick” Ford Active Chapter and commissioned a beautiful bronze bust and plaque in his honor that is mounted in AC today. His brothers established a Dick Ford Scholarship Fund in his honor, and Dick himself has left a scholarship fund in his name with the UM foundation to benefit brothers of Montana Beta upon the passing of himself and his beautiful bride. He is greatly missed by many who called 1120 Gerald Avenue home.
Apply for the Dick Ford Scholarship
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