Les Ford

Leslie Hunter Ford OBE (19 January 1917 – 17 December 1964) was an Australian politician. He was a Liberal Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1959 to 1964, representing the electorate of Dubbo.

Ford was born in Molong, and educated at Orange Public School and Orange High School. He worked on his father's grazing property at Amaroo until his father's death, whereafter he took over the property. He subsequently became a successful businessman, owning a machinery franchise, a car dealership, a number of butcher shops, and a range of pastoral property in the Dubbo area. He was an alderman on the City of Dubbo council from 1947 to 1964, serving as mayor from 1950. In 1956 Ford was appointed as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.[1]

Ford entered politics at the 1959 state election, winning the traditionally conservative Dubbo seat from the incumbent Labor member, Clarrie Robertson. He was easily re-elected at the 1962 election, but died in office in 1964. He was succeeded at the 1965 election by John Mason, who later became state Liberal leader.[2][3] The main bridge across the Macquarie river in Dubbo, the LH Ford Bridge, is named in his memory.

References

1. "The Order of the British Empire - Officer (Civil) (Imperial) entry for Alderman Leslie Hunter Ford". It's an Honour, Australian Honours Database. Canberra, Australia: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 22 November 1955. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
2. "Mr Leslie Hunter Ford". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
3. Green, Antony. "Elections for the District of Dubbo". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 14 October 2019.