10-4 Magazine - For Today's Trucker

PLANE CRASH CLAIMS FOUR LIVES

On Wednesday, May 11th, Robert Ford of Chino, California and three members of his family were killed when their Cessna 210 crashed on Whitehouse Mountain near Ouray, Colorado. In addition to Robert (59), the other victims included his wife of almost 40 years Patricia (57), their son Richard (36) and grandson Matthew (4). Rescue workers near the crash site speculated that severe winds were the cause of the accident. To make matters worse, recovery teams have been unable to reach the bodies, which are in a ravine about 2,000 feet below the crash site, because of an extreme avalanche danger. Robert Ford was a trucking icon in and around Southern California. His green trucks with yellow stripes have been around since the late 1960s, when the company, Robert R. Ford Trucking, first began. One of Robert’s Peterbilt transfers even graced our cover back in November of 1998. Reviewing that story was hard, as it brought back a flood of memories. Like the fact that Patty loved Christmas so much that she kept her Christmas tree up year-round. Spending time with this family, you quickly began to feel like you were part of it. They treated their “trucking company” people like members of the family as well. Ironically, it was also mentioned in that story that Robert, looking for fun and adventure, had just got his pilot’s license and purchased his own plane. Robert’s son Richard (Ricky) was very active in the company and loved to drive. Last September, Ricky and his son Matthew came by our booth at the trucking show in Anaheim and had their caricatures drawn by our artist. We can all vividly remember trying to keep little Matthew happy while he sat in his red Peterbilt wagon while being drawn. What a terrible loss. Robert and Patty’s surviving children, Paul and Amanda, will most likely be taking over the operation, with the help of many devoted, longtime employees and friends. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Ford family.

Click on the November 1998 cover (on right) to see and read a reprint of the Cover Feature about Robert Ford, his family and their company.