Stamp Honoring Former President Ford To Be Released Friday

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Ceremonies marking the first release of the new President Ford postage stamp are scheduled for Friday. <br/><br/>The first-day-of-issue ceremonies will be held at the McCallum Theater

Wednesday, August 29th 2007, 2:59 pm

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Ceremonies marking the first release of the new President Ford postage stamp are scheduled for Friday.

The first-day-of-issue ceremonies will be held at the McCallum Theater in Palm Desert, Calif., and at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Mich.

``The stamp wonderfully portrays his strength, warmth, and compassion. My family and I are filled with pride and gratitude for this remarkable tribute to our beloved husband, father, and grandfather,'' former first lady Betty Ford said in a statement.

Mrs. Ford and children Jack Ford and Susan Ford Bales will join Postmaster General John Potter at the California ceremony.

Ford's son Michael and brother Richard are scheduled to attend the Michigan event.

The 41-cent honors a life of public service by the former president and congressman who died in December.

By tradition, former presidents are remembered on a stamp in the year following their death. There is a five-year waiting period before other people can be so honored.

The 38th president was born Leslie Lynch King, Jr., in Omaha, Neb. He later changed his name in recognition of his mother's second husband.

Ford played on the University of Michigan's national championship football teams in 1932 and 1933 and later turned down offers to play professionally for the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers in favor of going on to law school.

He served in the Navy in World War II and in 1948 was elected to Congress for the first time, rising to minority leader.

Ford was named vice president when Spiro Agnew resigned and became president with the resignation of President Nixon in 1974.