He participated in the 133-mile Albany, New York-New York City marathon in April 1930, finishing second in his class. But Mr. Ballard became ill, called off the wedding and entered the hospital. Harold Ballard. In the Olympic Village, Mr. Ballard stole an Olympic flag and brought it home as a souvenir. 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. A system error has occurred. We have set your language to [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. 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. 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. [6] During the time Harold was in prison, his son Bill managed the Maple Leaf Gardens. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. HAROLD BALLARD OBITUARY Harold G. Ballard, born November 20, 1932 in New Orleans and a resident of the Central Community since 1960, died Sunday July 1, 2018. October 12, 1925 - November 25, 2016 Salem, Virginia Set a Reminder for the Anniversary of Harold's Passing. At the time, NHL teams relied on the reserve clause to keep players from jumping to other teams in the league, but the clause could not prevent players from leaving the NHL to join a different league. Bill Ballard, right, with singer Tom Cochrane and music publicist James Monaco at the opening of the musical Tommy in Toronto in 1995. [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. When an outraged Bassett complained, Ballard demanded $3,500 for use of the lights. 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. "He brought in televised boxing programs and he brought in basketball's Buffalo Braves for a few games of the NBA season. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. 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. We are constantly trying to improve our data and make the search for obituaries as easy as possible. It trained me to work for my dad.". DEARBORN, Mo. To make room for more seats, Ballard removed a large portrait of Queen Elizabeth II from the Gardens. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Born to Fred and Merleen Steele, David grew up in Pennsylvania and New Mexico. "He would eat enough fried calamari for four people, and then order something else.". Harold was born in Seneca, SC on September 15, 1940, son of the late John Malcom and Eunice Tucker Sheriff. He trained at the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD) in fine arts. Yolanda Ballard, who died in her sleep on June 3, is survived by daughter Ana MacMillan, son Bill MacMillan, granddaughter Molly and extended family, as well as longtime caregiver Astrid von Czieslik. "He was a lovely person, and I enjoyed his company," says Mr. Finkelstein, a recipient of Mr. Ballard's largesse. He tried to micromanage the team, interfering with coaches and players. Sittler will stay put at least this season," Ken McKee. The tournament would become known as the Summit Series. Family members linked to this person will appear here. Some information may no longer be current. Obituary James Harold Ballard, of Sharpsburg, passed away Wednesday, December 23, 2020. The storied arena fell into disrepair during Ballard's tenure. Search above to list available cemeteries. He trained at OCAD in fine arts. ", (Indeed, Mr. Ballard was an enthusiastic chaser of properties to bring into Toronto. Sorry! Bill Ballard died of cancer on March 13 at the age of 67. [7], When the NHL finally did take in four WHA teams after the 197879 season, Ballard refused to support the deal. [14] Eagleson called the trade "a classless act."[12]. Face masks are required. They nearly duplicated that dubious achievement in 198788. Imlach never returned to work and his contract was allowed to expire. [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]. William Tyndall Sr. 1964 - 2023 William Paul Tyndall Sr., of Enid, died Monday afternoon, February 27, 2023, after an extended series of illnesses related to diabetes. Follow Brad Wheeler on Twitter: @BWheelerglobeOpens in a new window. Failed to remove flower. In 1990, Harold Ballard died, irascible and overripe at 86. 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 . herculoids gloop and gleep sounds Resend Activation Email. 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. Indianapolis Star-News Obituary Indexes since December 20, 2006 . Under Day and Ballard, the Nationals won the Memorial Cup at the end of the 193536 season. Caught between a great inheritance in the sports world and an artistic career, he chose to lay bricks and paint. [9], During the 197879 season, with the Leafs struggling to make the playoffs, Ballard fired the team's popular head coach, Roger Neilson, against the wishes of the players. The elder Ballard, shrewd and unshockable, approved of the slaughter, seeing it as allegorical. [2] https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10477/harold-ballard. Harold Mark was born on April 25, 1935, at the birthing house in Le Sueur County to the proud parents of Lawrence and Emily (Bastyr) Beckman. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). You thought it couldnt get any more colourful under Harold Ballard. - Margaret Mae Hernandez, 85, of Dearborn, Missouri, passed away Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023, at her home. 31. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. Harold George Ballard - age 68 of Kodak passed away Sunday, December 3, 2017. This account has been disabled. According to Ballard's lawyer, his estate was worth less than $50 million. There is a problem with your email/password. The Leafs barely made the playoffs in 1980, finishing five games below .500. However, many players were unwilling to sign with Toronto in any event because of Ballard's reputation. 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. 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. "Is that an act?" On November 15, 2019, . William. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. 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. There was a problem getting your location. Off the ice, the Maple Leafs under Ballard were one of the league's most financially successful teams. Bill was born in Saint John on July 25th, 1951, son of the late Harold and Florence (nee Keir) Ballard. During his tenure as owner of the Tiger-Cats, Ballard for a short time had the Tiger-Cats logo painted at centre ice of Maple Leaf Gardens in place of the blue Maple Leaf. His father was Toronto Maple Leafs hockey mogul Harold Ballard. referee, angered a fan by accidentally knocking over the man's beer. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Other notable incidents and anecdotes during Ballard's time as majority owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Maple Leaf Gardens include:[1]. [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. Ballard was a very hands-on owner who quickly became known for being irascible and cantankerous. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. During his tenure, he repeatedly threatened to move the franchise to Toronto (70 km north). Cremation services have been . Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. He is survived by three children: William, Harold Jr. and Mary. 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. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. Harold served two years in the. 03/28/1925 - 11/15/2019 . Until he acquired control of the team and Maple Leaf Gardens in 1972, Mr. Ballard was little known outside hockey circles. David Blaine Steele, born in Titusville, PA on February 25, 1963, passed away February 24, 2023 one day before his 60th birthday. 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. Try again later. 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. For six years before World War I, Ballard and his family lived in Norristown, Pennsylvania. 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. Never paid any taxes for me. 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. I was close with (Harold) and he figured out what she was, said Gord Stellick. 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. Imlach was never officially fired, but when he tried to return to his office in November, he found that his parking spot at Maple Leaf Gardens had been reassigned and Gerry McNamara had been made acting general manager. HAROLD G BALLARD. [3], Ballard's greatest influence in this period was not on the ice, but on the financial performance of Maple Leaf Gardens. 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. 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 Marlies won the Memorial Cup in 1955their first championship in 26 yearsand repeated the feat the following season. He moved to the United States to be with his future wife in 2002. 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. However, he insisted on receiving compensation for Keon, and set the price so high that potential suitors shied away, in effect preventing Keon from joining another NHL team. 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. She was born November 5, 1922, in Cedar Springs MI to Harold and Cora (Miller) Ballard. He would entertain at his Thunder Beach cottage on Georgian Bay, where annually he would lead a trail of boats to Killarney, Ont. "He was a bit of a silent runner," Mr. Cohl says. Try again later. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Two months later, he was sentenced to nine years in a federal penitentiary. For example, he cut the salary of chief scout and former Leafs star Bob Davidson by almost two-thirds, forcing Davidson to resign. ABBOTT, Harold M; 85; Indianapolis IN; 2007-May-6; Harold Abbott . For the 1928 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Ballard was appointed assistant manager of the Varsity Grads team that won the hockey gold medal. She claimed to have been with Ballard for eight years at the time of his death. Ballard booked The Beatles on each of their three North American tours from 19641966. Smythe died just six weeks later. Try again later. Ballard's application would have required the unanimous consent of the four Eastern Football Conference owners to have been approved under the rules in effect at the time. Harold Ballard, hockey executive (born 30 July 1903 in Toronto, ON; died 11 April 1990 in To-ronto, ON). 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. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. [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. 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. As a member of the National Yacht Club, Ballard became an avid racer of Sea Fleas, small outboard hydroplanes. Please enter your email and password to sign in. He was accused by the Crown attorney of using funds from Maple Leaf Gardens Ltd. to pay for renovations to his home on Montgomery Rd., in Etobicoke. 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. BEVERLEY JOYCE BALLA February 17, 1929 ! 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. There was an error deleting this problem. 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. She was indeed because I personally witnessed it Harolds companion always.. Veteran. 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. Molson also agreed to sell its stake in Maple Leaf Gardens Ltd. to Stavro. His father was the foreman of a machinery company and his mother took in boarders. Harold Ballard. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer.