David R. Ford is a 1988 graduate of Highland High School. He completed his first two years of college at Eastern Illinois University. In August of 1990, David was in an automobile accident that left him a quadriplegic. Not letting that stop him, he continued his schooling in January of 1991 at the University of Illinois. David's doctors and school officials were amazed at his determination and unwillingness to put his life on hold. He has a Bachelors of Science Degree is in Agriculture Economics and a concentration in Accounting. He passed the CPA exam on his first try. After college, he was the Director of Finance and Administration for Paraquad, Inc. in St. Louis for five and a half years. While at Paraquad, David decided he wanted to do more and applied to St. Louis University School of Law. He worked full time and went to school part time for 18 months before quitting Paraquad to become a full-time student. During the summer of 2000, David served as an intern in the Office of the Chief Counsel, IRS, in Washington, DC. The following summer, his internship was with Price, Waterhouse, Coopers in St. Louis. David graduated from St. Louis University School of Law in 2001 and passed the Missouri bar on his first try. After law school, David went to work for the Office of the Chief Counsel (TEGE), IRS, in Washington, DC for four years. He then moved to the Office of the Chief Counsel (Criminal Tax), IRS, again in Washington, DC. He was in that position until he requested and received a transfer to the St. Louis office in 2009. He presently works in the Federal Building in downtown St. Louis in the IRS department as the Senior Attorney and oversees numerous agents. Some of the cases David has worked on that you will be familiar with are Rob Blagojevich, Wesley Snipes, and most recently, the Kansas ticket scandal. In November of 2007, David had an article published in the Fraud Digest entitled “Identifying and Developing Fraud: Proof of Willfulness.” David was the principal author of “Sickness and Accident Disability Payments” regulations, (T.D. 9233) and co-author of Revenue Ruling 2006-57, relating to Qualified Transportation Fringe Benefits. David has written several Private Letter Rulings, Congressionals, and Information Letters. He has also reviewed and edited defense letters, IRS publications and forms, and training manuals.