Prescott man has fond memories of Gerald Ford

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By PAULA RHODEN
The Daily Courier

­ Years before Betty Bloomer became first lady Betty Ford, she was a counselor at Camp Branazol in Wisconsin.

Prescott resident Katherine Weiger was a 14-year-old camper at Branazol and Bloomer was her counselor.

The remembrance of that camp experience led to a lifelong friendship between Gerald and Betty Ford and Ralph and Katherine Weiger.

Ralph Weiger said a former college roommate invested in a ski resort in Vail, Colo., in 1974. The Weigers bought a home on Mill Creek Circle in the Golden Teak lift area.

"Within the first season, in 1975, Gerald Ford was into his presidency and starting his campaign to be elected president," Ralph Weiger said.

Richard Nixon appointed Ford vice president when Spiro Agnew resigned, and he then became president when Nixon resigned.

Weiger said Vail socialite Sheika Gramshammer hosted a fund-raiser for President Ford on Dec. 29, 1975. The Weigers attended the event and Katherine was anxious to see her former camp counselor.

When the couple met the president, Ralph Weiger told the Fords that Katherine was looking forward to seeing her former camp counselor. The president knew immediately Katherine Weiger was referring Camp Branazol. He said the first lady spoke of it often. Unfortunately, the first lady was unable to attend the dinner.

Not all was lost however. President Ford danced the first dance with Gramshammer and then "pointed to Kay for the second dance," Ralph Weiger said.

The Weigers again crossed paths with the President and first lady while attending a play in New York City.

The couples had mutual friends and soon the Weigers were doing the "Washington thing," Ralph Weiger said.

Back in Vail, the Fords stayed at a home owned by Dick Bass because of Secret Service protection needs.

Weiger said another neighbor on Mill Creek Circle decided to do something special for President Ford. The man, an architect, "built a semi-underground enclosed pool. Of course, living on the circle meant the pool was in everyone's yard."

Ford lost the election, but not his friends in Vail.

"He was out of office, and the same architect who built the swimming pool said 'We have to keep the Fords in the neighborhood,'" Weiger said.

The Weigers were on a three-year assignment in Kuwait when they received a call asking if it would be OK to show their home to the former president and first lady.

On March 8, 1977, the Weigers received a letter saying the Fords would "not continue the acquisition of our house in Vail. I think Mrs. Ford didn't feel up to building two homes."

Weiger said the Fords continued to visit Vail and he often skied with the former president.

"Until about four years ago, he came to Vail every spring and he never missed our annual skiing event," Weiger said.

The former CEO of Midas Muffler and the former president were not the best skiers. Weiger said he and Ford were former football players and they often talked about football.

"We wore leather helmets at that time and the joke was that Ford had taken one too many hits to the head," Weiger said.

"Gerald Ford was as normal as anyone. He was just in the right place at the right time," Weiger said.

One of Weiger's funniest memories involves a wooden sign at the entrance to Mill Creek Circle.

"A picture of the sign appeared in the local paper Jan. 3, 1975. The sign said private property, emergency vehicles and residents only. But someone added a letter and it read 'presidents' only," Weiger said.

Today all federal offices are closed as a mark of respect and remembrance of the passing of former President Gerald Ford, who died Dec. 26 at the age of 93.



See also

Ford's support of the Vail Valley's arts apparent

2500 Remember Gerald Ford In Vail

Vail remembers President Ford 

NYC mayor, friend of Gerald Ford, attends funeral 

Contact the reporter at prhoden@prescottaz.com