| Byington Ford | |
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Lieutenant Byington Ford, ca. 1941 |
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| Born | Lewis Byington Ford November 1, 1890 Downieville, California, U.S. |
| Died | January 19, 1985 (aged 94) Ventura, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Carmel Valley Developer |
| Spouse | Marion Boisot Ruth Arlen |
| Children | Mary Jane Ford Patricia Reid Ford Audrey Ford |
| Parents | Tirey L. Ford Mary Emma Byington |
Lewis Byington Ford, November 1, 1890 - January 19, 1985 was born in Downieville, Sierra County, California, the son of Tirey L. Ford and Mary Emma Byington.
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In 1916, Mr. Ford was Director of the Animated Film Corp in San Francisco. His father, Tirey L. Ford, was president. The company produced animated cartoons long before Walt Disney. Byington worked with Benjamin Thackston Knight (1895-1977), aka “Tack” Knight and Pinto Colvig. The prospering endeavor ended, with the entry of the U.S. into World War I.
He enlisted in the California National Guard and went to Officers Training Camp at the Presidio of San Francisco where he was commissioned, and went to France during World War I. He was Captain in the 26th "Yankee" Division. In France, he trained at the St. Cyr cavalry school. [1]
On November 17, 1920, Mr. Ford married Marion Boisot in Pebble Beach, California. In 1931 he formed the Carmel Realty Company, which is still a major real-estate office in the city today. He and his wife Marion had three children, Mary Jane, Patricia, and Audrey.
According to the Carmel Valley Historic Airport Society, "Convinced that mass production of small aircraft would put a plane within the reach of anyone who could afford a car, In the late 1930's Byington bought the northeast corner of Rancho Los Laureles for an airpark. He and his brother Tirey, developed the Carmel Valley Airport for pilot-owners who would want to be at home a minute or two after getting out of their plane." [2]
In 1941, he enlisted in the Air force during World War II and became a Lieutenant Colonel. Established the 1st woman's' MP at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio. [3]
In 1946, Byington and his brother, Tirey Ford, developed the Carmel Valley Village and Airway Market, first known as the General Store, a barber shop, a drug store and soda fountain, a beauty shop, and a liquor store. All were in walking distance of the Airpark and decorated to resemble a Mexican village. The village is about 12 miles from the mouth of Carmel Valley Village, California. [4]
In 1955, he wrote a sketch book called "A Cartoon Sketch Book For Beginners". [5]
On January 19, 1985, at age 94, Mr. Ford died of pancreatic cancer at his home in Ventura, California. [6]