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By Gena McGuiness
Funeral services were held yesterday for Jack Fordman, owner of Fordman's department store. Recent months had seen the decline in health of the 53-year-old entrepreneur, husband and father. Son Whitney Fordman, Smallville High's star quarterback, had taken over the store's management duties while his father recuperated from a debilitating heart ailment. Released from Smallville Medical Center last month, Jack Fordman continued to convalesce at home while he waited for a donor heart. Fordman's health improved slightly this past week only to take a sudden and devastating downturn.
Fordman's department store has been a Smallville fixture since 1943, when Jack's mother, Ruth, founded the company selling homemade soaps, greeting cards, quilts and gift items. What began as a small business developed into downtown Smallville's most successful and oldest (with the closure of the Talon Theater) establishment. In 1950, Fordman's
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moved to its current location on Main Street and 12 years ago underwent major repairs after being struck by meteor fragments.
Jack Fordman was active in the community, serving two terms as president of the chamber of commerce and one term on the city council, donating store merchandise to local charities and volunteering at Mobile Meals.
Recently, thanks to Lex Luthor, Fordman was able to see one of his dreams come true when he watched his son, Whitney, quarterback a football scrimmage with the Metropolis Sharks here at Smallville High's stadium.
In addition to son Whitney, Jackson Fordman is survived by his wife, Betty.
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