The membership is only the tenth awarded in the past century.
Mr Ford was humbled and surprised by the presentation during an OPPA meeting in Dunedin yesterday.
"I'm very humbled because the OPPA is filled with people who have made big contributions to education in Otago. There are only 10 life members and the association has been in existence for over a century."
OPPA president Steve Hayward said Mr Ford was principal at Balclutha Primary School. He had been a member of the OPPA for 20 years and a member of the New Zealand Principals Federation for 10 years.
"I can't think of anyone else in the past decade who has done as much for principals as he has.
"He's the glue that holds us all together. He inspires people to do stuff way beyond what they would normally do.
"He has set the standard that all principals aspire to."
Tahuna Intermediate principal and close friend Tony Hunter said Mr Ford fitted the criteria for life membership "in spades".
During the 10 years Mr Ford was on the OPPA executive, he worked tirelessly to ensure the association was the best in New Zealand by supporting and assisting principals in their jobs.
"He made the association an advocate for principals, making sure they can be the best they can be so that, ultimately, schools and kids can be the best they can be," he said.
"He is a person who above all, is a teacher who knows that the job is all about kids and learning."
