Henry's Lieutenants

Burt John Craig

Burt John Craig 1885-1954 "There were certain individuals with whom Edsel Ford used the first name, but he'd never callMr. Craig anything but'Mister:,, —A. J. Lepine* Atreasurer of Ford Motor Company, B. J. Craig signed checks amounting to millions of dollars. It was also his responsibility to see that there was cash on hand to fill the envelopes of the thousands ofworkers who went to the cashier windows for their crisp new bills and shiny coins each payday. Burt John Craig was born in Detroit on August 7, 1885. He was the son of John G. Craig and Harriet Henry Craig. In the year of his birth, the Craigs lived at 96 Lewis Street, and his father was clerk at Gillett and Hall, merchants in grain, flour, and seeds. By 1888, John G. Craig had become manager of Star Elevator Company, and the family had moved to 312 Hancock Avenue West. But on June 20, 1890, John G. Craig died at the age of only twenty-eight. Burt, at age five, was sent to live with his grandmother, who also lived in Detroit. Burt had a sister, Frances, and later, when his mother remarried, he had a half-brother, Merrick Coate. Craig was educated in Detroit public schools and at Montclair Academy in New Jersey. His first position following school was as bookkeeper with the Commercial Milling Company, wholesalers of flour, corn, meal, and feed. The business was located at Randolph and Atwater Streets in Detroit. Craig joined Ford Motor Company in 1907 at the Piquette Plant as a bookkeeper under Frank L. Klingensmith, company treasurer, and W. C. White, assistant treasurer. On June 17,1908, Craig married Everil Stone, a Canadian living in Detroit. The couple established residence at 297 Ferry Avenue East in Detroit. In 1910, they had their only child, Phyllis. By 1912, the family was living at 236 Philadelphia Avenue in Detroit. From bookkeeper, Craig progressed to accountant, and when *From the oral reminiscences of A. J. Lepine, secretary to Edsel Ford. 75 Henry's Lieutenants Edsel Ford became treasurer of Ford Motor Company in 1918, Craig became assistant treasurer. This position was paramount to Craig's being treasurer because Edsel Ford had had no formal financial training. From the time Edsel Ford was made president of Ford Motor Company in 1919, he depended on Craig for financial responsibility. Craig was involved in the Ford financial panic of 1921, when New York banks threatened to take over the company. A crucial $5-million check from Craig to the First National Bank of New York relieved the situation. With finances more normal in 1922, the Fords purchased the Lincoln Motor Car Company from the Lelands, appointing Edsel Ford second vice president and Craig assistant secretary and treasurer under the Lelands. On May 12, 1925, Craig was appointed controller of Ford Motor Company, and in July of the same year, the Stout Metal Airplane Company of Dearborn was purchased with Edsel Ford as president, William B. Stout and William B. Mayo as vice presidents, and Craig as secretary and treasurer. During this period of prosperity, the Craigs moved to a more prestigious home at 2314 Boston Boulevard in Detroit. Although Craig did not live in Dearborn, he was associated with two Dearborn corporations besides Ford Motor Company. These were the William Ford Tractor Sales Company, in which he was vice president, and the First Liquidating Corporation of Dearborn. Both firms were related to activities of Henry Ford's brother William D. Ford. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, "B. J.", as he was called by his associates, almost became a banker. Edsel Ford was trying to keep Detroit banks solvent using Ford Motor Company funds. In December 1932, Craig was told to write a check for $3.5 million to help the Guardian Detroit group of banks. Henry Ford would offer more only with the proviso that Craig be made head of this entire Guardian group. Both Edsel and Henry Ford respected Craig's financial wisdom. On February 14, 1933, when the governor of Michigan officially closed all the state's banks because of the financial crisis in Detroit, Craig's phone rang all day and all night at home. In financial circles, Craig was known to hold the purse strings of Henry Ford, and according to the newspapers, Ford was expected to bail out the banks. By this time, the Craigs were living at 19595 Canterbury in Detroit, a home they were to...