Edsel Ford

Edsel Ford was a Northwest Arkansas poet whose first poems appeared in magazines while he was still at Rogers High School. After graduating from the University of Arkansas and serving in the Army in Germany, he returned to the family farm in 1958 to write full time. His poetry was inspired by the seasons, the fertile land, and nature, and he won a number of prestigious awards.

Ford published four major books of poetry and appeared in numerous publications, including the Ladies Home Journal and The New York Times. He was a big booster of the Ozark Arts & Crafts Festival at War Eagle, and served as its publicity chair for ten years. While undergoing medical tests in 1970, Ford died of a brain tumor at age 41. He's buried in the Benton County Memorial Gardens.

(Neg. #N010709)