In 1934, Ballard became manager of the West Toronto Nationals OHA junior team and hired Leaf captain Hap Day as coach. Things changed when Mr. Ballard became president and governor of the Maple Leafs in 1972. With Ballard's support, Imlach moved to dismantle the roster and undermine Sittler's influence, despite many analysts viewing the team as having a promising future. "Silent runner or not, an incident in 1989 put Mr. Ballard in the public arena, where the light was not always flattering. Echovita is an archive of public obituaries and death notices to keep you informed about people who have passed away in your. . Learn . Ballard was made president and general manager. David Michael Keon (born March 22, 1940) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre.He played professionally from 1960 to 1982, including 15 seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1986. Born Aug. 6, 1944, at Cairo, Illinois, to the late Harold Vance Delk Sr. and Mary Cogdill Delk, he had lived in Bertrand most of his life. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame (1977) and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame (1987). In regard to spotlights, Mr. Ballard didn't seek them himself. He was so. On November 15, 2019, . Harold Ballard. The WHA had insisted on bringing in all three of its surviving Canadian teams, meaning revenue from CBC telecasts now had to be split six ways rather than three. BEVERLEY JOYCE BALLA February 17, 1929 ! She was a canning manager and was a. Cool as a cucumber she says, Youre going to get you blankety blank a-- out of this car or youre going to have a hole that I can put a football through from here to East Lansing., She just knew what to do at the right time.. Featured Obituary. Ballard to Ottawa writer Earl McRae in the 1980s. But Ballard did not take the unproven WHA seriously as a competitor and so was outbid on the services of several players in the Leafs organization. Entombment will be in the Floral Hills Memorial Gardens. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. More recently, as president of Orion Capital, he ventured into mining interests. Ballard had once called Sittler "the son I never had", but relations between the two took a turn for the worse with Sittler's increasing prominence in the NHLPA. It is with heavy hearts that the family of William Joseph "Bill" Ballard announce his passing, after a brief illness, at the Saint John Regional Hospital on Sunday, July 10th, 2022. "When you get into the business at age 38, like I did, you're either crazy or you've got a great champion on your side. For six years before World War I, Ballard and his family lived in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. After Day became coach of the Leafs in 1940, he recommended Ballard to the Leaf organization to run the Toronto Marlboros, the senior and junior teams owned by the Leafs. Latest Obituaries. He wasn't just talk. presentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distribution Ballard was an owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL) as well as their home arena, Maple Leaf Gardens. The only available refreshments were large soft drinks from the concession stands.[5]. To do that, Ballard bought 24% of son Harold Jr.'s shares for $25 million. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Paul Henderson and Mike Pelyk followed a year later. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. The elder Ballard, shrewd and unshockable, approved of the slaughter, seeing it as allegorical. Soon after taking over as majority owner, he forced out several longtime front-office personnel and replaced them with his own men. Ballard became a fan of speed skating and would attend skating events and hockey games, helping to promote the Ballard skates. Thanks for your help! BALLARD, Bura (WOOD); 88; Greenfield IN; 2006-Dec-27; Bura Ballard BALLARD, Dorothy L (CROWELL); ; Indianapolis IN; 2007-Jan-3; Dorothy Ballard In 1969, painters doing over the Gardens' television booth used (perhaps unknowingly) a dozen or more of these banners to catch paint drips. "[4], He also expanded the number of concerts, entertainment acts, and conventions booked in the building. referee, angered a fan by accidentally knocking over the man's beer. Through the summer of 1980, Ballard insisted that Sittler would not be back with the Leafs. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. She would often hang around the team office until late at night. He also removed the cushions from the home bench for Toros' games (he told an arena worker, "Let 'em buy their own cushions!") . 30. In the early 1950s, Ballard hired his long-time friend Stafford Smythe, son of Leafs owner Conn Smythe, as managing director of the Marlboros. Mr. Ballard never remarried, although he kept close company in recent years with Yolanda Ballard, who changed her name from MacMillan to Ballard in 1987. A celebration of life is planned for the Granite Club when pandemic restrictions are lifted. Ballard was a very hands-on owner who quickly became known for being irascible and cantankerous. He had his own brand of patriotism. and denied them access to the Leafs locker room. One drunken, hollering student jumped into their front seat looking for a ride, scaring the kids in the back seat. Some information may no longer be current. Harold Delk Jr. (2/22/23) BERTRAND, Mo. It's probably also true that few managers would have gone to the lengths that Mr. Ballard did to serve a client. Echovita is an archive of public obituaries and death notices to keep you. As a young man-about-town in Toronto's version of the Roaring Twenties, Mr. Ballard participated in speed-skating competitions, raced motorboats and drove a Pierce-Arrow. Harold Edwin Ballard (born Edwin Harold Ballard, July 30, 1903 April 11, 1990) was a Canadian businessman and sportsman. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. However, many players were unwilling to sign with Toronto in any event because of Ballard's reputation. BALLARD, YOLANDA ANNA January 3, 1933 - June 3, 2020 It is with the greatest of sadness that I announce the passing of my beloved Mother, Yolanda Ballard. He competed in several regattas, and won the Toronto-Oakville marathon in 1929. [7], When the NHL finally did take in four WHA teams after the 197879 season, Ballard refused to support the deal. But he did more than work for his father. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. About a month later, Ballard and two friends from the Yacht club were hurled from a boat into a frigid Lake Ontario. Please try again later. Sorry! Harold Virgil Ballard [ 1] + 1929 - 2015 (86 years) Has 18 ancestors but no descendants in this family tree. Burke Mortuary - Newton-Conover You thought it couldnt get any more colourful under Harold Ballard. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. He negotiated lucrative deals to place advertising throughout the building, and greatly increased the number of seats in the Gardens. He is 1 of 7 names to be on both the Stanley Cup and Grey Cup. At the same time, Ballard continued to work for Ballard Machinery, and took over the business after his father's retirement in 1935. This is a carousel with slides. In Ballard's last 13 seasons, they only finished above fourth once and won only two playoff series. The Leafs and North Stars both played in the Norris Division, which was extremely weak that year; the Red Wings were the only team with a winning record. He was born on February 28, 1945, in Astoria, Oregon. Canadian businessman and sportsman (19031990). At the time of this fight, both Mr. Ballard and Mr. Clancy were in their 70's. SEARCH. Or, as The Globe and Mail's Stephen Brunt once put it, "a silver-spoon kid with survival instincts." The McDonald trade sent the Leafs into a downward spiral. Off the ice, the Maple Leafs under Ballard were one of the league's most financially successful teams. At no time before or after his trial did Ballard show any interest in being associated with Eagleson or in having members of the Leafs play the Soviets, and the move was widely seen to be a means to generate favourable public relations. Oops, something didn't work. Your suggestions have been submitted and will be reviewed by the memorial manager. Mr. Finkelstein's True North record label and artist management company was taking off, and so he withdrew from the concert promotion game. Harold Ballard, hockey executive (born 30 July 1903 in Toronto, ON; died 11 April 1990 in To-ronto, ON). Toros owner John F. Bassett (son of the elder John Bassett) had negotiated a lease with the elder Ballard's son, Bill. [15] Ballard told the press that the real battle had been between Imlach and Eagleson, and Sittler just got caught in the crossfire. On the personal side, Mr. Ballard was known as a lover of good friends and high times. Ballard was reappointed executive vice president. "Any time we were in trouble, and we were in trouble far more often than I'd like to remember, Harold was there for us.". [24] Federal Labour Minister John Munrofrom Hamiltonled an unsuccessful campaign against the deal, while Bassett, having sold the Argos to William R. Hodgson by this time, was also unable to intervene. This browser does not support getting your location. Hough relented, and the broadcast went on as scheduled. Other notable incidents and anecdotes during Ballard's time as majority owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Maple Leaf Gardens include:[1]. On October 16, 2016, as part of the Toronto Maple Leafs centennial celebrations, Keon was . The biggest loss was goaltender Bernie Parent, a superstar in the making, who was offered a WHA contract with financial terms far beyond what Ballard was prepared to match. "Maple Leaf forever? Angry teammates trashed their dressing room in response. There were differences of opinion on how good a businessman Harold Ballard was "He couldn't promote the Second Coming with the original cast," cracked Toronto Star columnist Frank Orr but his son's reputation was solid in that respect. Ballard and Keon never got along, and when Keon's contract expired in 1975, Ballard let it be known that Keon had no place on the team. Not wanting to unnerve Mr. McDermott with the sight of an empty seat where his dad was supposed to be, Mr. Ballard spent the first half of the concert trying in vain to find a lookalike to pass for the senior McDermott. Diamond Dreams: 20 Years of Blue Jays Baseball, Stephen Brunt, p.47, Penguin Books, Date-by-date story of Gardens takeover fight,", Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League, Canadian Radio and Telecommunications Commission, 1987 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, "Harold Ballard: Hockey's Miscreant Owner", "37 Year Cup Drought: The Legacy of Harold Ballard", "Harold Ballard, 86, Feisty Owner of Toronto Maple Leafs, Is Dead", CBC Digital Archives Harold Ballard Convicted of Fraud, Hockey Trade Rumors NHL Rumors from around the league 37 Year Cup Drought The Legacy of Harold Ballard, CBC Digital Archives Canada's Favourite BROAD-caster, "Black Aces: The Gutter Bin Presents More Classic Quotes", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Harold_Ballard&oldid=1140958443, Canada men's national ice hockey team coaches, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, In August 1979, to make room for private boxes, he had. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Lone Eagle Entertainment, Sam Lim I can see a lot of lawsuits flying around here. The team had a poor year with Ballard coaching, but Ballard arranged a European tour for the Nationals which included competing in the 1933 Ice Hockey World Championships in Prague. Weve updated the security on the site. The players who stayed could use the threat of joining the WHA to negotiate better contracts, and Ballard always blamed the WHA for inflating players' salaries. As this year's Maple Leaf press guide put it, ''He continues to defy his critics and dumbfound his detractors by basically just doing whatever he pleases, regardless of what anyone else thinks. Kingfisher County District Court prosecutors charged Ballard in March with two misdemeanor charges - carrying a firearm while under the influence of alcohol and public intoxication. James Harold Ballard (1934 - 2019) from Charlotte, NC. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. [27] According to Duguid, Ballard had been willing to pay as much as $15 million so he could buy and relocate the San Francisco Giants to Toronto, even though the franchise was only worth around $8 million. expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Toronto "It's the same," he said, "as human beings in business.". In November 1961, Conn Smythe sold most of his shares in Maple Leaf Gardens Ltd. to a consortium of his son Stafford, Toronto Telegram owner John Bassett, and Ballard. Canada, Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current. Harold met the love of his life, Anne Louise Dufek during his junior year. Harold Otto Hallberg, age 89, of Jordan, MN, formerly of St. Paul, MN, passed peacefully on Friday, July 31, 2020, at Oak Terrace Senior Living, in Jordan. Ballard ran his $100 million empire, which included the Toronto Maple Leafs, Maple Leaf Gardens, the American Hockey League Newmarket Saints and a printing company, via a holding company, Harold E . When you have found an obituary of interest, you have the option of upgrading that obituary with more recent and relevant content unless the obituary is already assigned to another user. . He was 58. Ballard was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as Edwin Harold Ballard. 3 talking about this. Mr. McDermott, for one, remembers him differently. She was born June 22, 1937, in Versailles, Missouri, daughter of the late Juanita . She fought with Ballard's family and partners over Ballard's estate following his death. based on information from your browser. As Imlach was preparing to trade Sittler to the Quebec Nordiques, he had a heart attack in August and was hospitalized. ''If there's gold on that ship, it doesn't matter what flag you fly,'' Mr. Smythe said. Keon was forced to move to the WHA's Minnesota Fighting Saints. In 1990, Harold Ballard died, irascible and overripe at 86. 1910 United States Federal Census. ''She never gave me anything. He removed the Queen's picture to make room for more seats. These demands made it financially impossible for the Toros to survive in Toronto, and after the 1975-76 season they moved to Birmingham, Alabama. Mr. Ballard invested in Maple Leaf Gardens when it was built in 1931 and worked there as he worked his way through the organization in various positions. Born Yolanda Babic, the daughter of Czech immigrants changed her name to Ballard in 1988, five years after first meeting the owner at the NHL clubs former home, Maple Leaf Gardens on Carlton Street, where he had an apartment. HAROLD G BALLARD. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. [28] However, in the end, it was a partnership of the Labatt Brewing Company, Howard Webster, and the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) that brought baseball to Toronto, as they were awarded an expansion team in the American League for $7 million that became the Toronto Blue Jays, who began play in 1977. A member of the Leafs organization from 1940 and a senior executive from 1957, he became part-owner of the team in 1961 and was majority owner from February 1972 until his death. He trained at OCAD in fine arts. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. The two men appeared together at a news conference described as "all smiles and buddy-buddy"[15] to announce that Sittler would not only be at training camp, but had reassumed his captaincy. October 12, 1925 - November 25, 2016 Salem, Virginia Set a Reminder for the Anniversary of Harold's Passing. There is only one Mrs. Ballard and that was my mother (Dorothy, who died in 1969), said Bill Ballard, who was found of guilty of assaulting Yolanda in 1989 and fined $500. Harold was born and reared in Canada. "He would eat enough fried calamari for four people, and then order something else.". In 1972, Harold Ballard's idiosyncratic bookkeeping and whimsical ideas on what money was his and what money belonged to Maple Leaf Gardens got him into severe trouble. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. After a brief stay at Kingston Penitentiary, he was moved to a minimum-security facility that was part of Millhaven Institution. "They loved each other deeply," Mr. Cohl says. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Harold Ballard (10477)? In those days, the top four teams in each division made the playoffs, regardless of record. In 1990, Harold Ballard died, irascible and overripe at 86. Please reset your password. Police surround the vehicle, and gunfire is heard on the video. David Blaine Steele, born in Titusville, PA on February 25, 1963, passed away February 24, 2023 one day before his 60th birthday. At the time, the CFL still consisted of two autonomous conferences. The executors of Ballard's will were Steve Stavro, Don Giffin and Don Crump. Failed to report flower. Besides, what the hell position can a queen play? Growing up in Jordan, he went to St John's Catholic School for 8 years and graduated from Jordan High School in 1952. A social media post showed video of what appears to be the shooting. Preceded in death by his parents, William Wallace and Carrie Buford (Pinkard) Hurt; brother, William ("Bill") Wallace, Jr.; and sister, Frances Hurt. Many fans consider the Ballard era to be the darkest period in team history. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Harold Ballard I found on Findagrave.com. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. Along with Parent, Rick Ley, Jim Harrison, Brad Selwood, and Guy Trottier all left the Leafs for the WHA before the 197273 season, as did some minor league prospects in the Leafs' system as well as the team's minor league coach, Marcel Pronovost. When the group's manager objected, Mr. Ballard told him the fans would tear down the building with the Beatles in it if they didn't do two shows. However, Ballard did not object the following year when Hodgson sold his stake in the Argos to Carling O'Keefe notwithstanding the fact the brewer also owned a team in the WHA (the Quebec Nordiques). Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. Stock shares were blood in the water; lawsuits were fiercely launched. [29], Despite his reputation, Ballard was well known for his charitable activities, and even leased out MLG for many functions. "He brought in televised boxing programs and he brought in basketball's Buffalo Braves for a few games of the NBA season. Please include I Remember in the subject field. [3], Ballard's greatest influence in this period was not on the ice, but on the financial performance of Maple Leaf Gardens. Even after the NHL-WHA merger was finalized over Ballard's objections, it was only the intervention of NHL President John Ziegler that finally persuaded Ballard to not reclaim Keon's rights (which would have effectively ended his career) and allow him to play three more seasons with the mediocre Hartford Whalers. He later reversed the names and referred to himself as Harold E. Ballard. Box 154, Tampico, IL 61283 www.tampicohistoricalsociety.com tampicohistoricalsociety@gmail.com President Joan Johnson, 815-438-7581 or garyjoan@thewisp.net Family History Coordinator, Denise McLoughlin 815-718-3617. His father was the foreman of a machinery company and his mother took in boarders. A year later, they moved to the Gardens. Ballard fronted Stafford Smythe most of the $2.3 million purchase price. Around that time, the Leafs had made it as far as the Stanley Cup semifinals in 1978, losing to the two-time defending champions Montreal Canadiens. Yolanda's lawyer Howard Levitt stated there had been a marriage proposal. [6] During the time Harold was in prison, his son Bill managed the Maple Leaf Gardens. Shortly after, Ballard tried to buy the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from owner Michael DeGroote, but that offer was also rejected. But they were taken down (on the premise that they were obstructing some customers' views). He would entertain at his Thunder Beach cottage on Georgian Bay, where annually he would lead a trail of boats to Killarney, Ont. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. All Work and All Play: A Life in the Outrageous Sport, p. 124, John Wiley and Sons Canada Ltd., Mississauga, ON, 2005. The Marlies won the Memorial Cup in 1955their first championship in 26 yearsand repeated the feat the following season. Harold attended Upper Canada College as a boarding student until dropping out in his third year in 1919. All The committee came to be known as the "Silver Seven". Sittler was apparently untouchable as he had a no-trade clause in his contract and, through his agent Eagleson, had insisted on $500,000 to waive it. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Robert A. Ballard, 82, of Mount Joy and formerly of Landisville, passed away on Thanksgiving, November 24, 2016, at Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg, VA. Robert was the loving husband. Please enter your email and password to sign in. When asked recently about the process of succession, Paul McNamara, chairman of the board of Maple Leaf Gardens, said: ''We just don't know it. Edit your searchor learn more U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 Draft, Enlistment and Service View Record information. Molson also agreed to sell its stake in Maple Leaf Gardens Ltd. to Stavro. Try again later. CPI had an exclusive arrangement with the arena, which left most rival promoters out in the cold. Fed up with being what he described as the "vice-president in charge of being the boss's son," he moved on to CPI , along with a $5-million loan from his father that helped found the company. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. At the time he was studying law, while she worked as a title searcher for a Toronto firm. Concert Productions International would become a hugely profitable enterprise and a game-changing innovator in full-service touring in North America. In his graduating year, Mr. Ballard was a student union president who helped convince the school's governors to build an athletic facility. Select the best result to find their address, phone number, relatives, and public records. Harold Fred Weber, Jr. Manning, South Carolina March 4, 1945 - April 24, 2020 Tribute Wall Obituary & Events Share a memory Send Flowers Share a memory of Harold Fred Weber, Jr.. Plant a tree in memory of Harold An environmentally friendly option Plant a tree b benny putnam December 23, 2020 I worked with Harold in Cheraw many years ago. William Owen Sydney Ballard (November 10, 1946 - March 14, 2014) was a businessman and concert promoter. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Even though the Leafs were barely competitive for much of the latter part of Ballard's tenure, every game at Maple Leaf Gardens was sold out. His disregard for his father's companion, the convicted fraud artist Yolanda MacMillan, made headlines when he was found guilty of assaulting her during an incident at Maple Leaf Gardens and fined $500. Phone: (828) 428-2460 Fax: (828) 428-4154 1101 East Maiden Road, P.O. Ballard. And so, at the age of 25, armed with a law degree from Osgoode, son Bill stepped in and became director and vice-president of Maple Leaf Gardens. Many fans consider the Ballard era to be the darkest period in team history, even after winning four Stanley Cups in the 1960s. All told, the Leafs only had six winning seasons in Ballard's 18-plus seasons as majority owner, and never finished higher than third in their division in any format. [2] Just after the advent of colour television in Canada, the Maple Leafs installed a new lighting system. One particular weekend, he said, Michigan beat rival Michigan State and the local students were going wild, which stalled traffic. We encourage your input. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. '', Mr. Ballard never let high position inhibit his tongue or his behavior. That year, they finished with a .325 winning percentage, fourth-worst in franchise history, and were only one point up on the Minnesota North Stars for the league's worst record. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? Many years ago, a young Bill Ballard and his brother, Harold Ballard Jr., presented their father with a pair of piranhas in an aquarium for Christmas. If you do not yet have a Torstar account, you can create one now (it is free), Copyright owned or licensed by Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. Make sure that the file is a photo. Their .300 winning percentage was the second-worst in franchise history. Search above to list available cemeteries. ''I just booted her out,'' Ballard told Dick Beddoes, the author of the biography ''Pal Hal.'' This account has been disabled. Shortly after taking control of the Leafs, Ballard stood trial on 49 counts of fraud, theft and tax evasion involving $205,000. Mary Heuring (2/21/23) After his parole, he stated that prison life was like staying in a motel, with colour television, golf, and steak dinners. Caught between a great inheritance in the sports world and an artistic career, he chose to lay bricks and paint. Review. The foothold was Maple Leaf Gardens, which was Toronto's lone venue for large winter events. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. He finished his sentence at a halfway house in Toronto, and was paroled in October 1973 after serving a third of his sentence. Ballard left his personal belongings to his children and grandchildren. And I had Billy on my side.". He trained at the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD) in fine arts. In the Olympic Village, Mr. Ballard stole an Olympic flag and brought it home as a souvenir. Face masks are required. The court awarded her $91,000.[32]. Family members linked to this person will appear here. The tour marked the end of Ballard's career as a full-time hockey coach. After being fined, he backed down and put the names in the opposite colours.
