in History and Sociology from Knoxville College and his Master's of Public Administration from Auburn University Montgomery, and has received four Honorary Doctorate Degrees.

[citation needed] After serving six terms as mayor, Ford was defeated in 1996 by Ronald D. Williams, a former political aide.

Facing a tough reelection to an 8th non-consecutive term in 2008, which featured 5 candidates, challenger Omar Neal led in the August municipal election by just 12 votes (927 to 915) over Ford.

Credited with turning out the "youth vote" from Tuskegee University, Neal defeated Ford by a 54-46% margin (1,463 to 1,270), in a higher turnout October runoff.

[citation needed] Ford rejoined the Democratic party and ran for the open state Senate district 28 in 2010 (incumbent Myron Penn retired).