By Ed Somers
December 17, 2007

The city and citizens of Dearborn (MI) honored their beloved former mayor Michael A. Guido on November 23 by naming the theater at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center after him.

Guido, known as “Your Friendly Mayor,” served as mayor of Dearborn for 21 years and was the sitting President of The U.S. Conference of Mayors at the time of his death at the age of 52 on December 5, 2006.

His drive to keep Dearborn attractive for families and young professionals culminated in the construction of the Ford Center in 2001. The $43 million facility played host a recent Republican presidential debate.

Guido was a professional entertainer in his younger years and loved different types of music. Among the lengthy list of private and public development projects Guido directed, he was most proud of The Center, which he often said brings the community together in “body, mind and spirit.”

The dedication was attended by Guido’s wife Kari, son Mikie, as well as many local dignitaries and citizens.

Conference of Mayors Executive Director Tom Cochran addressed the ceremony at the request of Kari Guido, describing the late mayor’s life as a series of acts. “How he loved the arts,” Cochran said, adding that when Guido “...touched down on this Earth, he started singing. I hope that every performance in this center will be as wonderful as Mike Guido.”

Edsel B. Ford II, whose famous name is virtually synonymous with that of Dearborn’s, said, “[This center] may have my family’s name on it, but it has Mike’s fingerprints all over it.” “We are honored to have his name join ours,” Ford added.

And Kari Guido remembered how her husband always told her his secret for performing, whether as mayor or in life. “You have to leave them wanting more, and he certainly did,” she said.