Bill MacMillan Jr., who said he was estranged from his mother at the time of her death, recalled how protective his five-foot little nothing mom could be. Ballard is buried at Park Lawn Cemetery in Toronto with his wife Dorothy. Ballard remained as de facto general manager even when Imlach recovered. 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. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. Edwin Harold Ballard was born on July 30, 1903, the only child of Sidney Eustace Ballard and the former Mary Garner. She was indeed because I personally witnessed it Harolds companion always.. 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. Canadian businessman and sportsman (19031990). Ballard died of a combination of factors, including diabetes, heart problems and kidney and respiratory failure, doctors at Wellesley Hospital said in a release. 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. It was the second time in three years that they had made the playoffs despite finishing with a winning percentage below .400. View Harold Edwin Ballard's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more. ''I just booted her out,'' Ballard told Dick Beddoes, the author of the biography ''Pal Hal.'' 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. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. . TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. The elder Ballard, shrewd and unshockable, approved of the slaughter, seeing it as allegorical. The only available refreshments were large soft drinks from the concession stands.[5]. When the Fighting Saints folded, Keon received an offer from the soon-to-be dynasty New York Islanders, but Ballard still owned Keon's NHL rights and effectively blocked that deal, forcing Keon to move to the relatively stable New England Whalers. After his playing days were over, Mr. Ballard quipped, "You didn't have to think too much to be the [football] centre. Harold never gave it another thought. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. At the same time, Hockey Canada and the NHL Players Association had negotiated an agreement to hold an eight-game tournament between Canadian professional hockey players and the top players from the Soviet Union. [7], When the NHL finally did take in four WHA teams after the 197879 season, Ballard refused to support the deal. He was also the owner of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL) for 10 years from 1978 to 1988, winning a Grey Cup championship in 1986. Featured Obituary. "[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. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Shortly after, Ballard tried to buy the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from owner Michael DeGroote, but that offer was also rejected. Republication or distribution of this content is At the time of this fight, both Mr. Ballard and Mr. Clancy were in their 70's. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? ''Harold hit him one shot; knocked him kicking,'' Mr. Clancy said in a 1984 interview. Yolanda Ballard, the former companion of crusty Maple Leafs owner Harold Ballard who became a central figure in the circus surrounding the franchise in the 1980s and 90s, has died. 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. 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. I mean, he didn't get his law degree from a Cheerios box. Paul Henderson and Mike Pelyk followed a year later. William. His death set off a feeding frenzy that had already been begun over the iconic properties he controlled: the Toronto Maple Leafs and. The following season, Day and Ballard worked together to run a senior team sponsored by E. P. Taylor's Dominion Brewery. A system error has occurred. At a game in the Philadelphia Spectrum in the late 1970's, Mr. Ballard defended his friend, a hockey legend named King Clancy, when Mr. Clancy, a former player and N.H.L. Early in their relationship, the pair travelled to the Cayman Islands and met dignitaries including Queen Elizabeth II and former prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, as well as performers such as opera star Luciano Pavarotti. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. "His own boat was called Midnight Mischief, and it was aptly named," says John McDermott, the successful Scottish-Canadian tenor. He was convicted of fraud and sent to Millhaven Institution. 30. 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. He said Yolanda would often show up on road trips. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. 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.". The Marlies won the Memorial Cup in 1955their first championship in 26 yearsand repeated the feat the following season. 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. In the end, they reportedly settled on somewhere between $2 million and $5 million in total, plus two seats at the Gardens. 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. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Harold Ballard (10477)? He also was the owner of the Hamilton Tiger Cats of the Canadian Football League (1978-89), which won the 1986 Grey Cup. Harold was born in Seneca, SC on September 15, 1940, son of the late John Malcom and Eunice Tucker Sheriff. While it provided a clearer picture for fans, it caused a very sharp glare that distracted players. A love so deep only silence is fit to describ . In August, just weeks before the series began, Ballard was convicted on 47 of the charges. By the time Yolanda walked into Harolds life in 1983, she had done jail time for perjury and been married once to a lawyer, then divorced. Ballard also signed Brje Salming to a new contract with terms that Imlach had refused to offer. Until he acquired control of the team and Maple Leaf Gardens in 1972, Mr. Ballard was little known outside hockey circles. Under coach Harry Watson, the team won the Allan Cup in 1932. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. "He was in the shadow of his father and maybe I got more attention, but he was awfully sharp. Ballard was reappointed executive vice president. Harold served two years in the. Try again later. Add to your scrapbook. At the conclusion of the series, Ballard sent a bill to Hockey Canada for use of the building. Toronto became a laughingstock of the. At age 54, Ballard was the oldest member of the group, which were otherwise all in their 30s and 40s. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. "He brought in televised boxing programs and he brought in basketball's Buffalo Braves for a few games of the NBA season. We encourage your input. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. Along with a sister and a brother, Mr. Ballard grew up in the towering shadow of his father's loud, blustery life. In return, he was given an option to buy Maple Leaf Gardens shares from Ballard's estate. Echovita is an archive of public obituaries and death notices to keep you informed about people who have passed away in your. One of the key players in the fight was his son Bill, a major concert promoter and something of a chip off the old block what he didn't learn at Osgoode Hall Law School, his father had taught him. ''Harold is going aboard and get that gold.''. He also removed the cushions from the home bench for Toros' games (he told an arena worker, "Let 'em buy their own cushions!") She was born June 22, 1937, in Versailles, Missouri, daughter of the late Juanita . JEAN BALLARD OBITUARY. based on information from your browser. Ballard was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as Edwin Harold Ballard. Follow Brad Wheeler on Twitter: @BWheelerglobeOpens in a new window. Ballard booked The Beatles on each of their three North American tours from 19641966. When he relented, Yolanda knowing he had also spent time behind bars, for fraud in 1972 reportedly broke the ice by saying: Weve got something in common. They returned to Toronto where his father, English-born Sidney Eustace Ballard, founded Ballard Machinery Supplies Co., a sewing machine manufacturer, which at one point was one of Canada's leading manufacturers of ice skates (it went out of the business in the early 1930s, when the Canadian skate market was dominated by CCM). expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Toronto Through the summer of 1980, Ballard insisted that Sittler would not be back with the Leafs. The tournament would become known as the Summit Series. 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. 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. Growing up in Jordan, he went to St John's Catholic School for 8 years and graduated from Jordan High School in 1952. Learn more about managing a memorial . [25] In 1986, Ballard publicly called the Tiger Cats a bunch of overpaid losers. 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 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. Forward to Family & Friends; Print; Contact Support; Upgrade; Death Certificates; Share This Obituary. This led to renewed criticism of Ballard's unwillingness to spend what it took to get the Leafs to the next level. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. "There's not a remote chance I would have a career if not for Bill Ballard.". 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. He had worked early on with Neil Young and Joni Mitchell in smaller venues, but by the time CPI came into being he saw the writing on the wall. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Harold Ballard I found on Findagrave.com. His father had been in the Coast Guard at the time. [11] Gregory learned of the news when he received a call from an NHL executive offering him the directorship of the NHL Central Scouting Bureau, unbeknownst to him that Ballard had fired him.[11]. Ballard was an owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL) as well as their home arena, Maple Leaf Gardens. Bill was born in Saint John on July 25th, 1951, son of the late Harold and Florence (nee Keir) Ballard. And I had Billy on my side.". 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. Yolanda was not invited to Ballard's funeral, nor to the reading of his will. She was. She thought it was horrible, the way she was treated by certain members of the family, and she found it unfortunate they wouldnt recognize the status she had, Levitt said. BALLARD, JEAN LORENA Jean Lorena Ballard, age 90, passed away Sunday, July 28, 2013 at Rose Haven Assisted Living Center in Menahga, MN. Failed to report flower. As owner of the Tiger Cats, Ballard claimed to be losing a million dollars a year. Bill Ballard, right, with singer Tom Cochrane and music publicist James Monaco at the opening of the musical Tommy in Toronto in 1995. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. As a reward for his role in the purchase, Ballard was named executive vice president of Maple Leaf Gardens, alternate governor of the Maple Leafs and chairman of the team's hockey committee. Harold Ballard in California We found 17 records for Harold Ballard in North Highlands, Inglewood and 14 other cities in California. Keon never forgave Ballard for how he had been treated, and it was more than 20 years before he was reconciled with the Leafs. "[4], He also expanded the number of concerts, entertainment acts, and conventions booked in the building. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Hurt, 91, of Salem, passed away on Friday, November 25, 2016. October 12, 1925 - November 25, 2016 Salem, Virginia Set a Reminder for the Anniversary of Harold's Passing. In 1991, Stavro paid off a $20 million loan that had been made to Ballard in 1980 by Molson. The Marlboros lost the game but won the series and the championship. Ballard was pulled from the water unconscious, but one of his friends died. He was so. 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). None of the three was wearing a life jacket. A year later, they staged a proxy war to regain control of the board. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Toros owner John F. Bassett (son of the elder John Bassett) had negotiated a lease with the elder Ballard's son, Bill. Ballard used the opportunity to name himself acting general manager and hold talks with Sittler, and the two agreed that Sittler would return to the team for the 198081 season. He told friends that on a visit to the Soviet Union he had put a Maple Leaf sticker on Lenin's tomb. In 1940, he became a member of the Maple Leafs Hockey Team organization, was a senior executive in 1957, became part-owner of the team in 1961 and was majority owner from February 1972 until his death at age 86. Many fans consider the Ballard era to be the darkest period in team history. "He would eat enough fried calamari for four people, and then order something else.". Ballard's children - Harold Jr., William and Mary Elizabeth Flynn - and his longtime companion, Yolanda Ballard, had visited him earlier Wednesday. Concert Productions International would become a hugely profitable enterprise and a game-changing innovator in full-service touring in North America. 0 cemeteries found in Toronto, Toronto Municipality, Ontario, Canada. Dave "Tiger" Williams who played with the Leafs from 1973 to 1980 had a close relationship with Ballard. Harold Ballard and Yolanda Ballard took out a marriage license last January in the Cayman Islands. One of them was Bernie Finkelstein, who with partner Bernie Fiedler was a major booker in Toronto in the early 1970s. In 1965, he sold tickets for two Beatles concerts on the same day, although the contract called for only one. This is a carousel with slides. 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. There, the Nationals lost 21 in overtime to a team from the U.S.the first loss for a Canadian team at the world championships. They would not post a winning record again in Ballard's lifetime, going a franchise-record 13 consecutive seasons without a winning record. But Mr. Ballard became ill, called off the wedding and entered the hospital. Harold Ballard, hockey executive (born 30 July 1903 in Toronto, ON; died 11 April 1990 in To-ronto, ON). 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. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. A visitation will be held on Friday, August 7, from 5-7 pm, at Ballard-Sunder Funeral and Cremation, 833 S. Marschall Road, Shakopee. However, due to playing in a division where no team cracked the 90-point barrier, they still made the playoffs. According to Globe columnist Dick Beddoes, the young Mr. Ballard played a "static but well-meaning game" as an undersized lineman. Harold met the love of his life, Anne Louise Dufek during his junior year. Obituaries - for Lincolnton Lincoln County, Cherryville, Stanley, Denver, Maiden . Burke Mortuary - Newton-Conover They married in 1957 and had two children before he filed for divorce. [30] Even before his death, there had been battles between his children, Bill Ballard, Harold Ballard Jr., and Mary Elizabeth Flynn, and his longtime companion, Yolanda Ballard. Thanks for your help! However, by the time the Toros played their first game at the Gardens, Ballard had been released from prison. Preceded in death by his parents, William Wallace and Carrie Buford (Pinkard) Hurt; brother, William ("Bill") Wallace, Jr.; and sister, Frances Hurt. Besides, what the hell position can a queen play? At the same time, Ballard continued to work for Ballard Machinery, and took over the business after his father's retirement in 1935. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. In 1973, the WHA moved the Ottawa Nationals to Toronto as the Toronto Toros. (His father had made the team's skates.) To do that, Ballard bought 24% of son Harold Jr.'s shares for $25 million. They nearly duplicated that dubious achievement in 198788. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Obituary Mr. Harold Ballard Sheriff, 78, of Cromer Road, Elberton, husband of 27 years to Betty Ann Powell Sheriff, finished his course in faith on Monday, April 1, 2019, at St. Mary's Hospice House in Watkinsville. Anyone can read what you share. Since it was a hot day, Mr. Ballard turned up the building's furnace, delayed both shows and ordered the concession stands to sell only large soft drinks. For six years before World War I, Ballard and his family lived in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Subsequent league expansions and format revisions make it impossible for a team so close to the bottom of the league standings to qualify for the playoffs today. He could not get enough of his grandma's cooking. He first gained attention in the late 1960s on the football gridiron of his alma mater, Waterloo Lutheran (now Wilfrid Laurier University). This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. 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. William Owen Sydney Ballard (November 10, 1946 - March 14, 2014) was a businessman and concert promoter. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Harold attended Upper Canada College as a boarding student until dropping out in his third year in 1919. New York, U.S., State Census, 1905. Review. Although the Leafs were barely competitive for much Ballard's tenure, every game at Maple Leaf Gardens was sold out and he was well known for his charitable activities. 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. Bill Ballard died of cancer on March 13 at the age of 67. 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. He wasn't just talk. 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. Harold would pretend to be angry, then make sure she had a ticket. Their best season in more than a decade has been the current one, during which Mr. Ballard was gravely ill and others assumed control. In the early 1950s, Ballard hired his long-time friend Stafford Smythe, son of Leafs owner Conn Smythe, as managing director of the Marlboros. He negotiated lucrative deals to place advertising throughout the building, and greatly increased the number of seats in the 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. Harold Quinten Ingram, 78, of Hickory, passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side on Thursday . Ballard fronted Stafford Smythe most of the $2.3 million purchase price. Ballard was a very hands-on owner who quickly became known for being irascible and cantankerous. [3], Ballard's greatest influence in this period was not on the ice, but on the financial performance of Maple Leaf Gardens. ''I thought we were both going to get arrested. When his cantankerous father returned from prison, Mr. Ballard was demoted, though he stayed on the board and kept his large chunk of common stock in the company. When Day was busy with the Leafs and unavailable for games, Ballard would step behind the bench as acting coach. ). As a young man, he loved working with horses on his aunt and uncles farm. permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Lone Eagle Entertainment, Sam Lim Ballard's three children had all previously received shares in Maple Leaf Gardens that they sold for more than $15 million each. Born to Fred and Merleen Steele, David grew up in Pennsylvania and New Mexico. [2] Along with his wife Noreen (nee Meahan . When she didnt travel with the team, she would arrange for suitable food to be sent to Harolds hotel room, ensuring the diabetic would eat well.