People attending the Dillon Lecture Series Tuesday morning got an up-close and personal look at Steve Ford's life "From the White House to Hollywood." Steve is the youngest son of former president Gerald Ford and former First Lady Betty Ford. Steve spoke about his life after his father became Vice-President and then President of the United States. He shared stories of his family's home life, his father's pardon of President Richard Nixon and the end of the Vietnam War. 

After living in the White House with his family, Steve moved to the western United States and later became a member of the professional rodeo circuit as a team roper.

Then in 1980, Steve became an actor in Hollywood, and for over 30 years appeared in film and television productions. Most recently he has been in the movies Transformers and Black Hawk Down. He was in Contact with Jodie Foster, Armageddon with Bruce Willis and in When Harry Met Sally as Meg Ryan's boyfriend. He has also performed numerous guest leads in television shows such as J.A.G., Walker Texas Ranger, Dr. Quinn, Baywatch and Happy Days. Steve also spent six years playing the character Andy Richards on the CBS daytime show The Young and the Restless. 

Steve has been sought after nationally as a motivational speaker as he talks about his experiences during his family's stay in the White House and his years in Hollywood. He talks about his successful battle overcoming alcoholism. Steve shared about his father's handwritten book that he published for his children so that they could learn about integrity, character, what it is like to be successful and the art of making friends. Steve suggested that everyone in the audience write out a special book for their children, grandchildren or neighbors who don't have a father in their lives. 

The next speaker in the Dillon Lecture Series is Kansas State University men's basketball coach Jerome Tang at the Sports Arena on October 8, 2024. 
For more information about the Dillon Lecture Series, go to www.hutchcc.edu/dls