A 1956 Ford Victoria sits in front of Churchill Estates.
A party at Churchill Estates, a senior living community off Northwest Highway, on Monday, July 30 celebrated Henry Ford’s birthday with cars and cupcakes.
The afternoon started with a brief history of Ford from Larry Renné, a retiree who worked at Ford nearly 33 years.
Attendees, who ranged from babies to seniors to small dogs, then braved the three-digit degree heat to check out vintage and new Ford cars including a 1966 Mustang Coupe, a 1965 Mustang convertible, a 2012 Mustang convertible and a 1956 Ford Victoria.
Rachel Cabal, lifestyle services coordinator at Churchill who organized the event, contacted Ford Motor Company who then contacted the North Texas Mustang Club, one of the largest in North America.
Members volunteered their time and cars (some of which had no air conditioning) to showcase in the Churchill parking lot.
“I look for a reason to celebrate every single day and this day happened to be Henry Ford’s birthday,” Cabal said.
Several residents shared stories of similar cars they owned and asked Renné questions on how production of Ford cars is different today.
Residents and a North Texas Mustang Club member gather around a 2012 Mustang convertible.
Cabal found this to be one of the most rewarding aspects. Many residents enter Churchill with little in common with each other except age. Events like this, Cabal says, help build community.
Terrie Campbell and Richard Rogers, members of the North Texas Mustang Club, stand next to a 1966 Mustang Coupe that Campbell owns and Rogers helps maintain.
“The way they find home is through experiences together.”
