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CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) On Tuesday July 2nd, The Valley City State University Basketball family lost former player and standout, Jerry Ford who lost his fight with cancer at the age of 63.

Ford was first introduced to the game of basketball when his father put up a hoop on a dirt clearing in a local park. Ford’s love for the game only grew stronger when he attended Amenia High School. In the Fall of 1966 Amenia closed its doors and Ford moved on to Central Cass School in Casselton, North Dakota.  It was at Central Cass that Ford won his first Championship taking the Squirrels to the Class B Title.

After high school Ford continued his basketball career at Valley City State University. He had an outstanding career with the Vikings. Ford was a prominent member of the Hall of Fame teams that found great success in the 1969 -1970 and the 1970-1971 seasons.

After finishing College Ford continued to play a role in the game he loved officiating boys’ and girls’ basketball for 35 years. Ford also was a coach for two years in Hope, North Dakota where he taught Science. After his time there, Ford moved to Lisbon where he settled down and retired from teaching in 2005.

Ford is survived by his wife, Mary and his two sons, Scott and Benjamin.