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We are constantly trying to improve our data and make the search for obituaries as easy as possible. Ballard was an owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL) as well as their home arena, Maple Leaf Gardens. Burial Date: March 6, 2023. She claimed to have been with Ballard for eight years at the time of his death. February 28, 1945 - October 12, 2021. The Marlboros lost the game but won the series and the championship. The Stellicks and Howard Levitt, a family friend and lawyer, contend Yolanda deserved the settlement. In Ballard's last 13 seasons, they only finished above fourth once and won only two playoff series. CPI had an exclusive arrangement with the arena, which left most rival promoters out in the cold. Verify and try again. He participated in the 133-mile Albany, New York-New York City marathon in April 1930, finishing second in his class. Imlach was as staunchly anti-union as Ballard; during his first stint in Toronto, he had been one of Eagleson's most ardent foes. McKee, Harold Alexander (Reverend) Passed away peacefully at Henley House, St. Catharines, on Monday February 18, 2019 at the age of 86. While it provided a clearer picture for fans, it caused a very sharp glare that distracted players. Obituaries - Lincoln Herald - Lincolnton, NC However, by the time the Toros played their first game at the Gardens, Ballard had been released from prison. Harold was born in Seneca, SC on September 15, 1940, son of the late John Malcom and Eunice Tucker Sheriff. - Margaret Mae Hernandez, 85, of Dearborn, Missouri, passed away Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023, at her home. He wasn't just talk. A love so deep only silence is fit to describ As an aide to the Canadian Olympic hockey team in St. Moritz, Switzerland, in 1928, he carried the national flag in the opening ceremonies. Though Imlach was gone, Sittler's relationship with the Leafs worsened again in the 198182 season and he was traded that year to the Philadelphia Flyers. 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. 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. "His own boat was called Midnight Mischief, and it was aptly named," says John McDermott, the successful Scottish-Canadian tenor. In the early 1950s, Ballard hired his long-time friend Stafford Smythe, son of Leafs owner Conn Smythe, as managing director of the Marlboros. 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. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Harold Ballard. Shortly after taking control of the Leafs, Ballard stood trial on 49 counts of fraud, theft and tax evasion involving $205,000. Obituary: Bill Ballard, son of Leafs mogul, was an entertainment pro Harold Ballard Jr.: Scion of notable sports character and artist Featured Obituary. 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. Mom reaches under the front seat and she pulls out this gun, said MacMillan. As Imlach was preparing to trade Sittler to the Quebec Nordiques, he had a heart attack in August and was hospitalized. 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. 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. 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. He was 86 years old and had spent most of the last two years in and out of hospitals because of diabetes-related heart problems. Bill Ballard died of cancer on March 13 at the age of 67. Some people took him for a boob, but they didn't realize how bright he was. Obituary Index - Whiteside and Bureau County, Illinois 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. AGE undefined Harold Ballard North Highlands, CA View Full Report Relatives Nilajay Butler Phone Address AGE 70s He first gained attention in the late 1960s on the football gridiron of his alma mater, Waterloo Lutheran (now Wilfrid Laurier University). 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. I mean, he didn't get his law degree from a Cheerios box. 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. 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. Preceded in death by his parents, William Wallace and Carrie Buford (Pinkard) Hurt; brother, William ("Bill") Wallace, Jr.; and sister, Frances Hurt. Harold would pretend to be angry, then make sure she had a ticket. After Ballard took control during the 197172 season, one of the first challenges he faced was the creation of the World Hockey Association (WHA) as a competitor to the NHL. Toros owner John F. Bassett (son of the elder John Bassett) had negotiated a lease with the elder Ballard's son, Bill. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. 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). 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 Ballard Jr.: Scion of notable sports character and artist Harold Ballard Hurt Obituary Remember Harold Ballard Hurt. In 1985-86, they finished with a .356 winning percentage, the fourth-worst record in the league and fourth worst in franchise history. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. All Drag images here or select from your computer for Harold Ballard memorial. permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com. Explore All. Ballard pleaded not guilty to all charges. 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. Please include I Remember in the subject field. 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. Make a life-giving gesture Harold Ballard, 86, Feisty Owner Of Toronto Maple Leafs, Is Dead, https://www.nytimes.com/1990/04/12/obituaries/harold-ballard-86-feisty-owner-of-toronto-maple-leafs-is-dead.html. 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 . Gord Stellick, the Leafs general manager in 1988-89 and Bobs brother, recalled that she just appeared at the Gardens one day (holding a cake, according to some accounts, and refusing to leave until he spoke to her). [7], When the NHL finally did take in four WHA teams after the 197879 season, Ballard refused to support the deal. To use this feature, use a newer browser. [3], Ballard's greatest influence in this period was not on the ice, but on the financial performance of Maple Leaf Gardens. On the second tour, in 1965, Ballard sold tickets for two shows, even though the agreement had been for only one. Ballard fronted Stafford Smythe most of the $2.3 million purchase price. 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. That deal closed in 1994, and shortly after Stavro bought Ballard's shares from the estate for $34 a share or $75 million. Imlach never returned to work and his contract was allowed to expire. In 1969, painters doing over the Gardens' television booth used (perhaps unknowingly) a dozen or more of these banners to catch paint drips. BALLARD, Bura (WOOD); 88; Greenfield IN; 2006-Dec-27; Bura Ballard BALLARD, Dorothy L (CROWELL); ; Indianapolis IN; 2007-Jan-3; Dorothy Ballard Neilson did return, without the paper bag. Indianapolis Star-News Obituary Indexes since December 20, 2006 . He was a lifetime resident of Gary and attended Wirt High School. Maple Leafs' owners through the ages | National Post Angered that the WHA was literally in his backyard, the elder Ballard made the Toros' lease terms as onerous as possible. Echovita is an archive of public obituaries and death notices to keep you. "If you can call a Chevrolet a Chev, why can't you call a Japanese a Jap?" It trained me to work for my dad.". 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, this was largely because Ballard was unwilling to increase the payroll in order to improve the on-ice product, despite playing in the fourth-largest market. 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. Bill Ballard - Wikipedia According to Ballard's lawyer, his estate was worth less than $50 million. DEARBORN, Mo. He was 58. On the night of the singer's first major concert at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto, the plan was to put the spotlight on Mr. McDermott's father in the audience during the show. Harold Hurt Obituary - Salem, Virginia - Tributes.com Ballard became a fan of speed skating and would attend skating events and hockey games, helping to promote the Ballard skates. Most of the money was left to a charitable foundation. Later that year, Ballard blocked Bassett's attempt to repurchase the Argos. [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. One drunken, hollering student jumped into their front seat looking for a ride, scaring the kids in the back seat. In 1934, Ballard became manager of the West Toronto Nationals OHA junior team and hired Leaf captain Hap Day as coach. Yolanda was not invited to Ballard's funeral, nor to the reading of his will. "[4], He also expanded the number of concerts, entertainment acts, and conventions booked in the building. However, the Maple Leafs under Ballard were one of the league's most financially successful teams. California Obituaries - Latest Obituaries in Grass Valley California It was the second time in three years that they had made the playoffs despite finishing with a winning percentage below .400. Harold attended Upper Canada College as a boarding student until dropping out in his third year in 1919. [14] Eagleson called the trade "a classless act."[12]. Off the ice, the Maple Leafs under Ballard were one of the league's most financially successful teams. At the time of this fight, both Mr. Ballard and Mr. Clancy were in their 70's. 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. Ballard was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as Edwin Harold Ballard. In those days, the top four teams in each division made the playoffs, regardless of record. Obituary indexes for Indianapolis Star-News, Marion County, IN - Vital Rec Priestley's 'Offside' paints a complex portrait of former Leafs owner Harold Ballard Hurt Obituary - Tribute Archive The foothold was Maple Leaf Gardens, which was Toronto's lone venue for large winter events. Burke Mortuary - Newton-Conover He trained at OCAD in fine arts. Edit your searchor learn more U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 Draft, Enlistment and Service View Record information. Born to Fred and Merleen Steele, David grew up in Pennsylvania and New Mexico. One of them was Bernie Finkelstein, who with partner Bernie Fiedler was a major booker in Toronto in the early 1970s. he asked. He was an 83 year old born in Menifee County to the union of the late Claude and Pearlie Golden White, and member of the Baptist Church. 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. However, hostility to Ballard's overture from the Toronto Argonauts (then owned by Ballard's former partner John Bassett) ensured it never went anywhere. Obituaries | Enid News and Eagle When Hockey Night in Canadas president, Ted Hough, balked at Ballard's demands just before a broadcast, Ballard grabbed a fireman's ax and threatened to cut the TV cable unless Hough agreed to pay. This proved to be a serious strategic blunder, as Smythe and Ballard controlled almost half the company's shares between them. [6] During the time Harold was in prison, his son Bill managed the Maple Leaf Gardens. After his parole, he stated that prison life was like staying in a motel, with colour television, golf, and steak dinners. He said it served the guy right, that it would do him some good.''. "Is that an act?" Paul Henderson and Mike Pelyk followed a year later. 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. Mr. Ballard married a minister's daughter, Dorothy Higgs, who died in 1969. They nearly duplicated that dubious achievement in 198788. He would entertain at his Thunder Beach cottage on Georgian Bay, where annually he would lead a trail of boats to Killarney, Ont. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Other notable incidents and anecdotes during Ballard's time as majority owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Maple Leaf Gardens include:[1]. That triggered a mutiny among some of the team's top players, who resigned from the squad in November. He had already consolidated his position by buying out his daughter, Mary-Elizabeth, for $15.5 million. 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. Ballard sold the team to businessman David Braley on February 24, 1989. At the conclusion of the series, Ballard sent a bill to Hockey Canada for use of the building. He said Yolanda would often show up on road trips. The Leafs, historically one of hockey's best franchises, gradually became one of its worst teams through the 1980's. You can always change this later in your Account settings. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. He tried to micromanage the team, interfering with coaches and players. A celebration of life is planned for the Granite Club when pandemic restrictions are lifted. He moved to the United States to be with his future wife in 2002. Veteran. In 1991, Stavro paid off a $20 million loan that had been made to Ballard in 1980 by Molson. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Harold George Ballard - age 68 of Kodak passed away Sunday, December 3, 2017. William. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. For example, when the roof leaked, he did little more than order plastic sheets to catch the rainwater. '', Mr. Ballard once called John Ziegler, the president of the National Hockey League, a ''know-nothing shrimp'' and described his own daughter as a ''reptile.''. 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. He was so. 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. The tournament would become known as the Summit Series. Along with his wife Noreen (nee Meahan . Henry Ballard Obituary - Dallas, TX U.S. On November 15, 2019, . Nevertheless, they still qualified for the playoffs under the playoff format in use at the time. Sittler himself ripped the captain's C off his sweater, later commenting that a captain had to be the go-between with players and management, and he no longer had any communication with management. In 1974, when Bassett put the Toronto Argonauts up for sale, Ballard offered to buy the team for $3 million, but his offer was rejected. Harold Ballard and Yolanda Ballard took out a marriage license last January in the Cayman Islands. 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 famously had his hand and footprints etched onto a concrete slab and placed it at centre ice of Maple Leaf Gardens, which deteriorated the quality of the Gardens ice. Luckily, the singer's slightly wounded father made to his seat in time for his spotlight moment.

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