Former U.S. President-Gerald R. Ford Jr. died yesterday at age 93. The cause of death has not been confirmed.

Born Leslie Lynch King Jr. in Nebraska, Ford grew up in Grand Rapids with his mother and step-father, later changing his name to Gerald R. Ford Jr. (I had always thought he was adopted, but not so according to this article).

Ford was a star football player for U of M and helped the team win national titles in 1932 and 1933. He turned down offers to play pro ball and attended Yale Law instead; he worked as an assistant coach at Yale while he studied.

He served in th Navy from 1942-1946 and in the House of Representatives for 25 years. Ford was appointed Vice President in 1973 following Spiro Agnew’s resignation, and became president in 1974 following Richard Nixon’s resignation. He lost a rebid in 1976 to Jimmy Carter, which many speculate was a result of Ford pardoning Richard Nixon.

Gerald R. Ford Jr. was the longest-living president in United States history.