One of the most productive hockey players in the history of professional hockey at the L.C. Walker Arena, Gary Ford scored 337 goals and 878 total points in ten seasons with the Muskegon Mohawks from 1967 to 1979.  Gary signed his first professional contract with the Montreal Canadians organization and was immediately assigned to their Muskegon affiliate for the 1967-68 season.  That first season was nothing short of spectacular for Ford and the Mohawks.  Muskegon won the regular season IHL championship and continued on to capture the Turner Cup playoffs with relative ease.  The Mohawks virtually swept individual IHL awards, including top-scoring honors and a rookie of the year trophy for Ford.  He scored 56 goals along with 59 assists and added a sensational game-winning goal in over-time of game 4 in the Turner Cup finals against Dayton.

The talent-laden Montreal Canadiens made advancement difficult at best and despite his impressive statistics, Ford remained in Muskegon for the next five seasons, averaging better than 100 points per year, climaxed by an IHL record 141 points in 1972-73.  The following year he was called up to Halifax, the Canadiens top AHL affiliate, but was back in Muskegon before the season was over.  He finished out his career with the Mohawks following the 1978-79 season, retiring at age 32.  During his solid 10 year career here, he was the IHL’s Most Valuable Player twice, led the league in total scoring on three occasions and was an IHL all-star three times.  He also set league season records for most game-winning goals with 11 (since broken) and most power play goals with 25.  He led the Mohawks team in scoring six times and trailed only Bryan McLay in career total points with the Muskegon franchise at the time of his retirement.