Ford Employee is Built Ford Tough and Going Strong with Super Duty

Ken Dickerson is a Super Duty man through and through.

He started working at the Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville in 1995, first on Super Duty (then called Commercial Light Trucks), then Excursion and Expedition.?Now, he’s back on Super Duty, building b-pillars and rocker panels for Ford’s heavy-duty truck.

“As Johnny Cash might say, every day I’d watch those beauties roll by, and sometimes I’d hang my head and cry because I always wanted one that was blue and white,” he said.?“I had it all picked out – Indigo Blue and Oxford White, super cab or crew cab, 7.3L turbo diesel, and 4x4 of course.”

But 27 years ago, Dickerson had a new home and young family to support, so he put his wish for a Super Duty on the back burner.?By 2013, the kids were grown.?They had moved out of the house and had lives of their own.?He decided that it was finally time to buy his dream truck.

“I looked for about two years,” he said.?“Finally, one day I found what seemed to be what I wanted on an internet search.”

The only problem was the vehicle was located outside of Seattle, Washington, and Dickerson lives in Kentucky.

“Just for kicks I called the guy,” he said.?“The pictures looked nice, low miles, no rust, well cared for. We talked a bit, and he said to come on over and look at it, and I laughed. I thought it was crazy, and I said thank you.”??

But he couldn’t get the truck out of his mind.

“After a couple weeks I was still thinking about it, so I called him back. He said he still had it,” said Dickerson.

So, Dickerson called his father and asked him if he wanted to go on a trip.

“I made a deal with my dad.?We would fly to Seattle. I told him either way we will – with a rental car or my new truck – we were going to do a cross-country road trip to Yellowstone on the way back,” he said.

When Dickerson saw the truck, he loved it. It was a 1997 F-250 4x4 turbo diesel in the exact color combination he wanted.

Dickerson’s dad, a retired home builder, had always wanted to go to the Buffalo Bill museum in Cody, Wyoming and the gravesites of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane in Deadwood, South Dakota.?So, the pair enjoyed the trip of a lifetime, also stopping in Grand Teton National Park and visiting Mt. Rushmore and Devil’s Tower.

“It was a phenomenal trip.?Three thousand miles back, and a week later that truck was in my driveway,” he said.?“Every day I get in my truck I can’t help but smile.?First off, I had a great trip with my dad.?And second, I get to drive what I want.”??

Dickerson said he loves working at Ford.

“It’s a very diverse environment.?I feel like diversity is our strength,” he said.?“And Ford has been very good to my family.”

And he loves his truck.?It’s 25 years old now, and still his daily driver.

“I bought it with 150,000 miles on it; now it has 250,000 miles and it’s still going strong.?Love that turbo whistle.?Ole Blue sounds like a jet plane and pulls like a freight train,” he said.

“Rarely a month goes by when someone doesn’t offer to buy my truck.?And I’ve had some pretty good offers.?But it took me a long time to find the one I wanted, and I’m not interested in selling it,” he continued.?“I got what I got the hard way, and I make it better each day cause I’m a Ford man. Built Ford Tough at the Kentucky Truck Plant!”

Dickerson was asked to share his story with the world when Ford revealed the?all-new Super Duty?at Churchill Downs in September.

“I was surprised, humbled and proud.?I’m sure there are many employees that have a wonderful Ford truck story to share,” he said, recalling the experience.?“I imagine we all do.”