A Legacy of Service and Education: Exploring Ford's Enduring Impact

Ford's name resonates across diverse fields, from automotive innovation to academic excellence. This article explores the rich history and impactful programs associated with the Ford name, examining both the legacy of Ford dealerships and the educational opportunities provided by university history departments.

Ford Dealerships: A Century of Automotive Excellence and Community Commitment

The Ford name has been synonymous with the automotive industry for over a century. Dealerships like Jordan Ford demonstrate a long-standing commitment to customer service and community engagement.

Jordan Ford: Over a Century of Service in San Antonio

Established in 1919, Jordan Ford stands as San Antonio's oldest Ford dealership, deeply rooted in the community. With a history spanning generations, Jordan Ford has prioritized customer satisfaction and fostered lasting relationships with drivers in South Central Texas.

Customer-Centric Approach

Jordan Ford's philosophy revolves around making the auto experience smooth and enjoyable. Their intuitive Menu Pricing system eliminates haggling and hidden fees, providing customers with a fair price within 15 minutes. This transparent approach extends to used Ford prices and various Ford financing options.

Comprehensive Services

Beyond sales, Jordan Ford offers a range of services to keep vehicles in peak condition. Their certified Ford service experts provide top-tier service, paying meticulous attention to every detail of vehicles like the Explorer SUV or F-150 truck. They also supply OEM Ford parts, such as tires, and custom Ford accessories.

Awards and Recognition

Jordan Ford has consistently earned accolades for its exceptional service, including the Ford One Hundred Club, the Ford Motor Company President's Award, and the prestigious Ford Triple Crown Award. These awards demonstrate their unwavering commitment to turning potential car buyers into valued customers for life.

Community Engagement

Jordan Ford actively supports the local community through various initiatives. They contribute to local schools, food banks, and foundations like the San Antonio Blood Bank and the Leukemia Foundation. To commemorate their centennial, Jordan Ford pledged to donate $1,000 for every year in business, totaling $100,000, to local charities.

Commitment to Accessibility

Jordan Ford stands as one of the nation's largest Ford Mobility centers, catering to customers with limited mobility. They also embrace their strong Spanish-speaking customer base, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity for all.

F-150: A Testament to Durability

Since 1977, the Ford F-150 and Ford Super Duty have been the best-selling trucks, renowned for their rock-solid durability. The 2025 Ford F-150 exemplifies this legacy, offering customers a reliable and long-lasting vehicle.

University History Departments: Shaping Minds and Exploring the Past

History departments within universities play a crucial role in education, research, and community engagement. They offer a diverse range of programs designed to develop critical thinking, analytical skills, and a deep understanding of the past.

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Mission and Goals

University history departments are dedicated to teaching, research, and the intellectual development of students, the university, and the community. They strive to recruit and support a diverse community of students, faculty, and staff, providing educational opportunities and professional service. They also nurture research as an essential component of their teaching mission and engage in self-reflection to ensure effective and efficient operations.

Curriculum and Faculty

History departments offer undergraduate courses covering a range of global cultures, events, and themes. Outstanding faculty members challenge students to scrutinize the past, question mainstream ideas, and become experienced orators and writers. The requirements for a History major ensure that graduates develop both depth and breadth of knowledge of geographical regions of the world, time periods in history, and thematic approaches to understanding social, political, and economic changes in human societies.

Skills and Career Paths

The study of history teaches valuable job skills and prepares graduates for careers in a variety of professions. Graduates from history programs find employment in fields such as teaching, museum curating, editing, lobbying, and journalism. A degree in History prepares students for graduate or professional schools, as well as a wide variety of careers in law, business, government, public service, and others. History stresses learning how to read critically, write effectively, and develop diverse yet rigorous bodies of knowledge.

Minors and Interdisciplinary Programs

History departments often administer interdisciplinary programs such as Asian Studies and Classical Civilization. These programs involve faculty from various departments, including religion, literature, philosophy, sociology, political science, business, and education. Students minoring in these areas must have the approval of a member of the relevant faculty. The history minor provides students with an overall view about the people and events of the past.

Master's Degree in History

History departments offer Master's degrees in History, providing advanced study and research opportunities. The History Department is able to offer a limited number of Graduate Teaching Assistantships.

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M.A. Requirements

M.A. students are subject to specific requirements, including limitations on the number of courses taken with one faculty member and a minimum grade requirement. Graduate students are expected to maintain at least a 3.0 average, and no student may be awarded a master's degree unless the graduate average is B or higher.

Thesis and Non-Thesis Options

Students have the option of pursuing a thesis or non-thesis track. Thesis option students must prepare a prospectus, which must be approved by the thesis advisor and committee. The prospectus should contain a clear exposition of the working hypothesis, the approach and materials the student intends to use, and some indication of the significance of the work. At least three graduate faculty members, at least two of them historians, shall serve on the thesis committee. A thesis option student will have two years following completion of regular course requirements to write and defend the thesis. Thesis students must complete at least 6 hours, but no more than 15 hours, of HIS 6971. Master's theses prepared for the department of history must use footnotes (rather than endnotes). Footnote form must follow the Chicago Manual of Style (current edition). Upon completion of the thesis, the student should submit it to the committee, and ask the supervisor to schedule a public oral defense before the committee. If the thesis is passed by the committee, it is sent to the department chair, and the Graduate Dean for approval. At any point after the defense, the thesis committee, the chair, or the Graduate Dean may reject the thesis entirely, or request revisions to the thesis before final approval is given. Students in the non-thesis option may take no more than a total of nine credits in HIS 6905 Directed Independent Study and HIS 6946 Internship in History courses, combined. The student will submit a research paper of at least twenty pages in length written for a UNF graduate course from the student's program of study. A committee of three faculty members, selected in consultation with the graduate program director and consisting of the faculty member who taught the research seminar, will review the paper to determine its readiness and direct an oral defense of the paper, which includes a formal presentation followed by questions and answers with the faculty panel. The student should be prepared to present and defend the paper's findings and place the work in an appropriate historiographical context.

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