Allan Gilmour has enjoyed a varied career, and life, and he talks about both in a long interview with Xpress, the new monthly magazine serving metro Detroit's LGBT community.
Gilmour grew up on a Vermont farm, became vice-chairman of the Ford Motor board of directors and president of Wayne State. He plans to retire in 2013.
XPRESS: You began at Ford in 1960, in the "Mad Men" era, which was certainly a repressive time for homosexuals. Was that tough for you?
GILMOUR: No, because I didn't know what I was. I had a slow start at Ford, at least in my view, but within a year...I suppose I was impatient. I was much more talented for top management then than I am now. I was ready as an MBA to set the world on fire. I ended up with a great job before my first year was out. It was coordinating a financial review that went to the top inside committee of Ford and the board of directors. I had a great job in breadth. I could see what was happening at all parts of Ford Motor Company. Ford was, and is, a gigantic company with all sorts of things going on and I was almost, if I can use the term, in love with Ford Motor Company. I guess the best answer is I was neither gay nor straight. I was Ford.
