After his playing days were over, Mr. Ballard quipped, "You didn't have to think too much to be the [football] centre. Burke Mortuary of Maiden Inc. Make sure that the file is a photo. In his graduating year, Mr. Ballard was a student union president who helped convince the school's governors to build an athletic facility. [8], At the time Ballard took over, the Leafs' captain was Dave Keon, who had been with the team since 1960. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. One particular weekend, he said, Michigan beat rival Michigan State and the local students were going wild, which stalled traffic. BROWN, NELLIE G., 95, of Eugene, Ore., died Thursday (Dec. 29, 1994) at HCA Oak Hill Hospital. AGE undefined Harold Ballard North Highlands, CA View Full Report Relatives Nilajay Butler Phone Address AGE 70s Soon after taking over as majority owner, he forced out several longtime front-office personnel and replaced them with his own men. Follow Brad Wheeler on Twitter: @BWheelerglobeOpens in a new window. [3], Ballard's greatest influence in this period was not on the ice, but on the financial performance of Maple Leaf Gardens. They nearly duplicated that dubious achievement in 198788. 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. Resend Activation Email. In the West, CFL teams had come under significant pressure resulting from the introduction of WHA franchises in the four largest Western markets, therefore Western Football Conference teams were generally supportive of Ballard's efforts to become a CFL owner. Much of Ballard'S Fortune Going to Charity Former Owner'S Female His acquisition of the Leafs, one of Canada's most revered properties, came shortly before Mr. Ballard served a year in jail on a fraud conviction for diverting money from the Gardens' accounts to his own. ''Harold hit him one shot; knocked him kicking,'' Mr. Clancy said in a 1984 interview. You saw the seeds of a great promoter. After Ballard's release from prison, he had an apartment built at the Gardens facing Church Street where he would live through most of the year, while spending summers at his cottage near Lafontaine, Ontario in the Thunder Beach community. He said Yolanda would often show up on road trips. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame (1977) and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame (1987). He also was the owner of the Hamilton Tiger Cats of the Canadian Football League (1978-89), which won the 1986 Grey Cup. HAROLD BALLARD OBITUARY HAROLD BALLARD III "Bo" Gary, Indiana Age 19 passed away Monday, December 4, 2006. 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. 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. Mom reaches under the front seat and she pulls out this gun, said MacMillan. He would coach one more game, for the senior Marlies, during the 1950 Allan Cup final, after head coach Joe Primeau's father died. He floated the idea of bringing in the NHL's California Golden Seals into the Toronto area and much later was a failed bidder for the expansion NBA Raptors.). Ballard died from various health complications on April 11, 1990 at the age of 86. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Some people took him for a boob, but they didn't realize how bright he was. But Mr. Ballard became ill, called off the wedding and entered the hospital. Your suggestions have been submitted and will be reviewed by the memorial manager. He told friends that on a visit to the Soviet Union he had put a Maple Leaf sticker on Lenin's tomb. Harold Virgil Ballard (1929 - 2015): Vest Family Trees "He was a bit of a silent runner," Mr. Cohl says. "It's the same," he said, "as human beings in business.". Ballard's opposition to European players was so virulent that a Leafs scout used Ballard's time in jail to sign Brje Salming, one of the NHL's first great European players. View Harold Edwin Ballard's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more. At the same time, Ballard continued to work for Ballard Machinery, and took over the business after his father's retirement in 1935. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. In 1969, Ballard and Stafford Smythe were charged with tax evasion and accused of using Maple Leaf Gardens Ltd. to pay for their personal expenses. Investigators said Ballard allegedly pulled out a firearm; shots were fired, and the 42-year-old died at the scene. His death set off a feeding frenzy that had already been begun over the iconic properties he controlled: the Toronto Maple Leafs and the building the team played in, Maple Leaf Gardens. "[4], He also expanded the number of concerts, entertainment acts, and conventions booked in the building. During his tenure, he repeatedly threatened to move the franchise to Toronto (70 km north). She fought with Ballard's family and partners over Ballard's estate following his death. YOLANDA BALLARD Obituary (1933 - 2020) - Toronto, ON - Legacy 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. In Toronto, one of the most British of Canadian cities, with downtown streets named ''King'' and ''Queen,'' a large picture of Queen Elizabeth used to hang in Maple Leaf Gardens. February 28, 1945 - October 12, 2021. He moved to the United States to be with his future wife in 2002. After his parole, he stated that prison life was like staying in a motel, with colour television, golf, and steak dinners. Harold McKee Obituary - Peterborough, ON - Dignity Memorial Mr. Ballard was a victor mostly, though nervy, cunning, garrulous, generous, protective of friends, formidable as an adversary and sharp as a tack, by all accounts. Harold Ballard Hurt Obituary Remember Harold Ballard Hurt. From the Toronto Star, December 3, 1969: FUNERAL SERVICES FOR MRS. DOROTHY BALLARD Funeral services will be Friday morning at 11am at Kingsway-Lambton United Church for Mrs. Dorothy Ballard, wife of Maple Leaf Hockey Club vice president Harold Ballard. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. He was not only angry at how the WHA had decimated his roster earlier in the decade, but also wasn't enamored at the prospect of reduced television revenue. She was a canning manager and was a. CAS Announces Dr. Robert Ballard as 2023 Spring Meeting Featured Weve both been to jail.. Obituaries | Enid News and Eagle He competed in several regattas, and won the Toronto-Oakville marathon in 1929. His father was Toronto Maple Leafs hockey mogul Harold Ballard. He wasn't just talk. Shortly after taking control of the Leafs, Ballard stood trial on 49 counts of fraud, theft and tax evasion involving $205,000. rights reserved. Harold met the love of his life, Anne Louise Dufek during his junior year. These demands made it financially impossible for the Toros to survive in Toronto, and after the 1975-76 season they moved to Birmingham, Alabama. Try again later. 00:02:34 Harold Ballard is very self-deprecating, but that doesn't mean he isn't astute or insightful. He often fought with league authorities, his employees, the news media, the fans and his children, often chuckling as he moved from battle to battle. Mr. Ballard married a minister's daughter, Dorothy Higgs, who died in 1969. The Tiger-Cats made the playoffs every year under Ballard's ownership and played in four Grey Cup championship games, losing in 1980, 1984 and 1985 before finally winning the Cup in 1986. Conn Smythe later claimed that he believed he was only selling his shares to his son, but it is very unlikely that Stafford could have acquired the millions he needed to buy the Leafs on his own. In the early 1970s, Ballard made an application for a second Canadian Football League team to be based in Toronto, to play at Varsity Stadium. In regard to spotlights, Mr. Ballard didn't seek them himself. Harold Edwin Ballard Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information However, as Ken Dryden put it in his book The Game, he seemed "like [a] wrestling villain who touches the audience to make his next villainy seem worse.". In 1990, Harold Ballard died, irascible and overripe at 86. As a young man, he loved working with horses on his aunt and uncles farm. Yolanda was not invited to Ballard's funeral, nor to the reading of his will. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Some information may no longer be current. In fact, for a short while, he stood in for him. Edit your searchor learn more U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 Draft, Enlistment and Service View Record information. expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Toronto 0 cemeteries found in Toronto, Toronto Municipality, Ontario, Canada. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. [13] Ballard would liken Sittler's actions to burning the Canadian flag. It didn't take long for one fish to devour the other, as is their nature. Entombment will be in the Floral Hills Memorial Gardens. Steve Stavro, who would succeed Ballard as Leafs owner 30 years later, was co-owner of the Toronto City team. She was 87. Obituary James Harold Ballard, of Sharpsburg, passed away Wednesday, December 23, 2020. 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. Harold Ballard Sheriff Obituary (1940 - 2019) | Elberton, GA - Echovita After being threatened with a large fine, Ballard "complied" by putting the names in blue letters on the Leafs' blue road jerseys, and in white on their white home jerseys, making them unreadable. Off the ice, the Maple Leafs under Ballard were one of the league's most financially successful teams. Shortly after, Ballard tried to buy the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from owner Michael DeGroote, but that offer was also rejected. There was an error deleting this problem. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. Harold Ballard, the owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League and a man described by his team's fact book as ''one of the most loved and hated men in Canada,'' died. Ballard refused, citing it as a threat to program sales. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. This is a carousel with slides. Their best season in more than a decade has been the current one, during which Mr. Ballard was gravely ill and others assumed control. [7], When the NHL finally did take in four WHA teams after the 197879 season, Ballard refused to support the deal. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. He was 58. Try again later. Harold Ballard. Ex-Leaf Doug Gilmour looks back at the Wayne Gretzky high stick in 1993 and sees the worst officiated game you can imagine, Inside the trade of Blue Jays batting champion John Olerud, a deal former GM Gord Ash would like to have back, The Toronto Star and thestar.com, each property of Toronto Star He was a lifetime resident of Gary and attended Wirt High School. Please try again later. Harold Virgil Ballard [ 1] + 1929 - 2015 (86 years) Has 18 ancestors but no descendants in this family tree. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Lone Eagle Entertainment, Sam Lim You can always change this later in your Account settings. Ballard was reappointed executive vice president. Echovita is an archive of public obituaries and death notices to keep you. Ballard was pulled from the water unconscious, but one of his friends died. Harold Ballard in California We found 17 records for Harold Ballard in North Highlands, Inglewood and 14 other cities in California. 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. Select the best result to find their address, phone number, relatives, and public records. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. I was close with (Harold) and he figured out what she was, said Gord Stellick. We are constantly trying to improve our data and make the search for obituaries as easy as possible. His parents were Clarence Buchholz and Ruth Preston Buchholz. 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. Ballard sold the team to businessman David Braley on February 24, 1989. Growing up in Jordan, he went to St John's Catholic School for 8 years and graduated from Jordan High School in 1952. She was indeed because I personally witnessed it Harolds companion always.. 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. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Bill Ballard's relationship with his father was undeniably stormy, but there was a bond. Ballard wasn't initially named to the committee when it was unveiled in March 1957, but took the place of Ian Johnston nine months later. Diamond Dreams: 20 Years of Blue Jays Baseball, Stephen Brunt, p.33, Penguin Books. Harold Quinten Ingram, 78, of Hickory, passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side on Thursday . We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. This proved to be a serious strategic blunder, as Smythe and Ballard controlled almost half the company's shares between them. "Leafs' owner Ballard spends $1.3 million to buy the Tiger-Cats," Rick Matsumoto. The Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS) has announced that deep-sea explorer and retired U.S. Navy commander Dr. Robert Ballard, best known for his discovery of the R.M.S. Ballard's three children had all previously received shares in Maple Leaf Gardens that they sold for more than $15 million each. [15] Ballard told the press that the real battle had been between Imlach and Eagleson, and Sittler just got caught in the crossfire. She was born June 22, 1937, in Versailles, Missouri, daughter of the late Juanita . Soon, they were a couple. To order copies of More recently, as president of Orion Capital, he ventured into mining interests. In 1985-86, they finished with a .356 winning percentage, the fourth-worst record in the league and fourth worst in franchise history. Weve updated the security on the site. U.S. Well, you added Yolanda to the mix and it actually did get more colourful, recalled Bob Stellick, who worked for the Leafs on the business side in the late 80s and compared the relationship to Archie and Edith Bunker from the old sitcom All In The Family.. 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. Benjamin Harold Ballard, 42, was shot and killed in a traffic altercation at SW 59 and Mustang Road about 6:45 p.m. Friday, June 5, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation reported. 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. Mr. Ballard's will may determine his heir and the next owner of the team and building. 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. His death set off a feeding frenzy that had already been begun over the iconic properties he controlled: the Toronto Maple Leafs and. . He was convicted of fraud and sent to Millhaven Institution. He is 1 of 7 names to be on both the Stanley Cup and Grey Cup. MPD officer involved shooting takes life of Yukon man Once you find the obituary you are looking for, you can get important information about upcoming services, share a favorite photo or memory, and send flowers or gifts to the family. Harold Ballard, Eccentric Owner of Toronto Hockey Team, Dead at 86 '', See the article in its original context from. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? This account has been disabled. It was the second time in three years that they had made the playoffs despite finishing with a winning percentage below .400. [1] For the 1962 season, Ballard tried to introduce a hockey-style penalty box to soccer, but the rule change was not allowed by FIFA. "[25] A few days later, the Tiger Cats won the 1986 Grey Cup by beating the Edmonton Eskimos 3915 and Ballard said it was worth every penny. Within three years under the new owners, profits at the Gardens had tripled to just under $1 million. The Marlboros lost the game but won the series and the championship. Its only a pellet gun, but its lifelike. Loving father of Alan McKee (Beverly) of Calgary, Nancy Buckham (David) of Burlington, Karen Charlebois (Del) of Newcastle and Brian McKee of St. Catharines. Harold George Ballard - age 68 of Kodak passed away Sunday, December 3, 2017. Most of Harold Ballard's fortune will eventually go to charity and his female companion will receive $50,000 a year until she dies or marries, executors of his estate said Wednesday. Ballard was a legendary personality who was known for alienating many of the most popular Leafs stars of the day, including Dave Keon, the team captain, and Darryl Sittler, another captain, whom. Toronto, Toronto Municipality, Ontario, Canada. 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. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. William. Mr. Ballard opposed hockey games against teams from the Soviet Union, calling the Russians ''parasites and barnacles who steal our money.'' He tried to micromanage the team, interfering with coaches and players. Molson also agreed to sell its stake in Maple Leaf Gardens Ltd. to Stavro. The singer was nearing 40 years old and working at The Toronto Sun when he embarked on a performing career. In gratitude, Williams shot a bear during a winter hunt and skinned it for Ballard's office. Add to your scrapbook. He said it served the guy right, that it would do him some good.''. Hernandez, Margaret M. 1937-2023 Dearborn, Mo. | Obituaries Facing an untenable situation, Bassett resigned as chairman and sold his shares to Ballard and Stafford Smythe in September 1971. Harold Ballard Hurt Obituary - Tribute Archive They would not post a winning record again in Ballard's lifetime, going a franchise-record 13 consecutive seasons without a winning record. We have set your language to At the end of the 197172 season, the Leafs only had three players signed to contracts for the next season: Rick Kehoe and veterans Jacques Plante and Bobby Baun. In the Olympic Village, Mr. Ballard stole an Olympic flag and brought it home as a souvenir. Priestley's 'Offside' paints a complex portrait of former Leafs owner Featured Obituary. Family and friends may call at the Amos Carvelli Funeral Home, 201 Edison Street, Nutter Fort on Sunday from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, where funeral services will be held on Monday, March 6, 2023 at 11:00 am. 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. Veteran. According to Ballard's lawyer, his estate was worth less than $50 million. 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. On the hot summer day of one of the concerts, Ballard ordered the building's heat turned up, shut off the water fountains, and also delayed both of the concerts for over an hour. Angry teammates trashed their dressing room in response. However, due to playing in a division where no team cracked the 90-point barrier, they still made the playoffs. On the second tour, in 1965, Ballard sold tickets for two shows, even though the agreement had been for only one. In his will, Ballard had left Yolanda $50,000 a year for the rest of her life, but she considered this inadequate and sued for $192,600 and later $381,000 a year. Learn more about merges. For six years before World War I, Ballard and his family lived in Norristown, Pennsylvania. He also removed the cushions from the home bench for Toros' games (he told an arena worker, "Let 'em buy their own cushions!") Latest Obituaries. You can search by first or last name, state and publication date. Harold Ballard Jr.: Scion of notable sports character and artist Smythe died just six weeks later. She would often hang around the team office until late at night. [25] In 1986, Ballard publicly called the Tiger Cats a bunch of overpaid losers. As a member of the National Yacht Club, Ballard became an avid racer of Sea Fleas, small outboard hydroplanes. You thought it couldnt get any more colourful under Harold Ballard. [33] The purchase was the subject of a securities commission review and a lawsuit from Ballard's son Bill, but the deal stood and Stavro and his partners in MLG Ventures became the new owner of the Leafs and Maple Leaf Gardens. 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. 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. For example, he cut the salary of chief scout and former Leafs star Bob Davidson by almost two-thirds, forcing Davidson to resign. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Just as Ballard's trial was beginning, he told Hockey Canada that they were welcome to use any member of the Leafs on the Canadian team, could use Maple Leaf Gardens for their training camp, and could use the building for any or all of the games in the series, with the Gardens' share of the gate receipts being donated to the NHL players' pension fund. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. In 1991, Stavro paid off a $20 million loan that had been made to Ballard in 1980 by Molson. I can see a lot of lawsuits flying around here. In the mid-1970s the NHL, facing competition from the WHA, passed a rule that players' last names must be on the backs of their jerseys. He was a big fish in a big pond, his appetite was the stuff of legend and he knew all about "eat or be eaten.". Pennants proclaiming National Hockey League championships, Stanley Cup victories and other triumphs used to hang from the rafters of Maple Leaf Gardens. Watson chose not to return the following season, and Ballard took over the coaching duties. Ballard was an owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL) as well as their home arena, Maple Leaf Gardens. Video of officer-involved shooting in Mustang investigated If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. Ballard left his personal belongings to his children and grandchildren. Dave Keon - Wikipedia Cremation services have been . Harold served two years in the. 30. obit@globeandmail.comSend us a memory of someone we have recently profiled on the Obituaries page. 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.