Ford was born in Detroit and attended Henry Ford Trade School, Melvindale High School, Nebraska State Teachers College, and Wayne State University. He interrupted his studies to serve in the United States Navy during World War II, 1944-1946. He also served and in the United States Air Force Reserve from 1950 to 1958. After the war, he received a B.A. from the University of Denver in 1949, and an LL.D. from that university's College of Law in 1951. He was admitted to the bar in 1951 and practiced law in Taylor, Michigan. He was justice of the peace for Taylor Township, 1955-1957; city attorney for Melvindale, 1957-1959; and attorney for Taylor Township, 1957-1964.

He was a delegate to the Michigan constitutional convention, 1961-1962, which drafted the state constitution adopted in 1963. He was a member of the Michigan State Senate, 1962-1964; member and officer of Michigan's Sixteenth District Democratic Organization, 1952-1964; delegate to Michigan Democratic conventions, 1952-1970, and to the Democratic National Convention in 1968. He was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives for the Eighty-ninth and the fourteen succeeding Congresses, serving from January 3, 1965 to January 3, 1995. He was not a candidate for reelection to the One Hundred Fourth Congress. He was chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service in the Ninety-seventh through One Hundred First Congresses, and of the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor in the One Hundred Second and One Hundred Third Congresses.

He died at his home in Ypsilanti Township, Michigan of complications from a stroke and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Preceded by: Barbara-Rose Collins United States Representative for the 13th Congressional District of Michigan 1993 - 1995 Succeeded by: Lynn Rivers