For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. View Harold Edwin Ballard's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more. In addition to sharing the Braves with Buffalo, he had notions of a second CFL franchise and big-league baseball, too. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. 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. herculoids gloop and gleep sounds U.S. to colleagues, clients or customers, or inquire about He finished his sentence at a halfway house in Toronto, and was paroled in October 1973 after serving a third of his sentence. Harold Douglas Buchholz passed away on October 12, 2021 at his home on Heart Mountain. He would coach one more game, for the senior Marlies, during the 1950 Allan Cup final, after head coach Joe Primeau's father died. rights reserved. To do that, Ballard bought 24% of son Harold Jr.'s shares for $25 million. 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. [10] After the season, where the Maple Leafs were swept in the quarterfinals by the Canadiens, Ballard fired general manager Jim Gregory, replacing him with his predecessor, Punch Imlach. The Stellicks and Howard Levitt, a family friend and lawyer, contend Yolanda deserved the settlement. 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. However, Ballard soon began displaying tendencies that would eventually make him one of the most detested owners in NHL history. She would often hang around the team office until late at night. Harold Ballard. Please include I Remember in the subject field. To make room for more seats, Ballard removed a large portrait of Queen Elizabeth II from the Gardens. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Harold Ballard (10477)? "He would eat enough fried calamari for four people, and then order something else.". 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. [14] Eagleson called the trade "a classless act."[12]. Many fans consider the Ballard era to be the darkest period in team history, even after winning four Stanley Cups in the 1960s. 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. 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. Mr. Ballard married a minister's daughter, Dorothy Higgs, who died in 1969. At the time of this fight, both Mr. Ballard and Mr. Clancy were in their 70's. Although she and Harold never married, Yolanda had her name legally changed. Obituary James Harold Ballard, of Sharpsburg, passed away Wednesday, December 23, 2020. Under coach Harry Watson, the team won the Allan Cup in 1932. During the hockey off-season in 1961, Ballard became founding president of the four-team Eastern Canada Professional Soccer League, which operated in Toronto, Hamilton, and Montreal. [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. 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. After his playing days were over, Mr. Ballard quipped, "You didn't have to think too much to be the [football] centre. Hough relented, and the broadcast went on as scheduled. Keon never forgave Ballard for how he had been treated, and it was more than 20 years before he was reconciled with the Leafs. Sorry! Leave your condolences to the family on this memorial page or send flowers to show you care. he asked. Create an Obituary. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. The Leafs defeated the Red Wings in the final game of the season, and backed into the playoffs when the Stars lost their final game hours later. 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 brought in televised boxing programs and he brought in basketball's Buffalo Braves for a few games of the NBA season. 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. Slapshots: The Best and Worst of 100 Years of Hockey. 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. (His father had made the team's skates.) Imlach was as staunchly anti-union as Ballard; during his first stint in Toronto, he had been one of Eagleson's most ardent foes. Toronto, Toronto Municipality, Ontario, Canada. Harold Edwin Ballard (born Edwin Harold Ballard, July 30, 1903 - April 11, 1990) was a Canadian businessman and sportsman. A love so deep only silence is fit to describ Ballard never forgave the WHA for this, and became the leader of the hardline faction of NHL owners who opposed any merger with the upstart league. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Failed to remove flower. Indeed, the one story about Mr. Ballard's excitable metabolism that has been recycled more than the others over the years involves a visit to New York, where a stunned matre d' witnessed the man's gustatory feats. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. Canada, Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current. When Day was busy with the Leafs and unavailable for games, Ballard would step behind the bench as acting coach. Its only a pellet gun, but its lifelike. Yolanda's lawyer Howard Levitt stated there had been a marriage proposal. 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. In September 1981, after Imlach had another heart attack during training camp, Ballard told the media that Imlach's poor health meant that "he's through as general manager". As a young man, he loved working with horses on his aunt and uncles farm. A system error has occurred. Caught between a great inheritance in the sports world and an artistic career, he chose to lay bricks and paint. [29], Despite his reputation, Ballard was well known for his charitable activities, and even leased out MLG for many functions. ABBOTT, Harold M; 85; Indianapolis IN; 2007-May-6; Harold Abbott . 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. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. Facing an untenable situation, Bassett resigned as chairman and sold his shares to Ballard and Stafford Smythe in September 1971. In 1991, Stavro paid off a $20 million loan that had been made to Ballard in 1980 by Molson. 1910 United States Federal Census. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Bill Ballard died of cancer on March 13 at the age of 67. It's true that few men other than Mr. Ballard could have placed a relative novice such as Mr. McDermott on a national tour with the world's premier Celtic group, the Chieftains. This led to renewed criticism of Ballard's unwillingness to spend what it took to get the Leafs to the next level. [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. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Harold Ballard (10477)? Family and friends can send flowers and/or light a candle as a loving gesture for their loved one. obit@globeandmail.comSend us a memory of someone we have recently profiled on the Obituaries page. 00:02:34 Harold Ballard is very self-deprecating, but that doesn't mean he isn't astute or insightful. In Ballard's last 13 seasons, they only finished above fourth once and won only two playoff series. "He was a lovely person, and I enjoyed his company," says Mr. Finkelstein, a recipient of Mr. Ballard's largesse. 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. 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 was 58. Family members linked to this person will appear here. 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. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. This proved to be a serious strategic blunder, as Smythe and Ballard controlled almost half the company's shares between them. Review. In 1973, the WHA moved the Ottawa Nationals to Toronto as the Toronto Toros. Please reset your password. Molson also agreed to sell its stake in Maple Leaf Gardens Ltd. to Stavro. 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. This account has been disabled. About a month later, Ballard and two friends from the Yacht club were hurled from a boat into a frigid Lake Ontario. However, due to playing in a division where no team cracked the 90-point barrier, they still made the playoffs. Stock shares were blood in the water; lawsuits were fiercely launched. Mr. Ballard's will may determine his heir and the next owner of the team and building. 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). "It's the same," he said, "as human beings in business.". No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. Forward to Family & Friends; Print; Contact Support; Upgrade; Death Certificates; Share This Obituary. On the personal side, Mr. Ballard was known as a lover of good friends and high times. In the Olympic Village, Mr. Ballard stole an Olympic flag and brought it home as a souvenir. Harold attended Upper Canada College as a boarding student until dropping out in his third year in 1919. The Leafs barely made the playoffs in 1980, finishing five games below .500. For example, he cut the salary of chief scout and former Leafs star Bob Davidson by almost two-thirds, forcing Davidson to resign. Their .300 winning percentage was the second-worst in franchise history. We have set your language to 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. 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. There was a problem getting your location. 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. Ballard also signed Brje Salming to a new contract with terms that Imlach had refused to offer. Make a Memorial Donation . Watson chose not to return the following season, and Ballard took over the coaching duties. 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 yesterday in Toronto. "Leafs' owner Ballard spends $1.3 million to buy the Tiger-Cats," Rick Matsumoto. However, by the time the Toros played their first game at the Gardens, Ballard had been released from prison. Drag images here or select from your computer for Harold Ballard memorial. These demands made it financially impossible for the Toros to survive in Toronto, and after the 1975-76 season they moved to Birmingham, Alabama. SEARCH. Showcase your loved one's life story with a featured obituary. This became clear when the arena was dim for the first game. 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. 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 left his personal belongings to his children and grandchildren. Through the summer of 1980, Ballard insisted that Sittler would not be back with the Leafs. He wasn't just talk. Ballard to Ottawa writer Earl McRae in the 1980s. But Mr. Ballard became ill, called off the wedding and entered the hospital. 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. Mr. McDermott was a pet project of Mr. Ballard's. Hockey Hall of Fame Team Owner. [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. All She was born June 22, 1937, in Versailles, Missouri, daughter of the late Juanita . However, hostility to Ballard's overture from the Toronto Argonauts (then owned by Ballard's former partner John Bassett) ensured it never went anywhere. The foothold was Maple Leaf Gardens, which was Toronto's lone venue for large winter events. In his graduating year, Mr. Ballard was a student union president who helped convince the school's governors to build an athletic facility. All results for Harrold Ballard Edit SearchNew SearchJump to Filters To get better results, add more information such as Birth Info, Death Info and Locationeven a guess will help. The elder Ballard, shrewd and unshockable, approved of the slaughter, seeing it as allegorical. 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. One particular weekend, he said, Michigan beat rival Michigan State and the local students were going wild, which stalled traffic. 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. February 28, 1945 - October 12, 2021. They nearly duplicated that dubious achievement in 198788. Funds were also used to renovate his Midland cottage, to rent limousines for his daughter's wedding in 1967, and to buy motorcycles for his sons (passing off the expense as hockey equipment for the Marlboros), as well as placing money belonging to the corporation into a private bank account that he controlled along with Stafford Smythe. 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. Besides, what the hell position can a queen play? Harold was born and reared in Canada. However, many players were unwilling to sign with Toronto in any event because of Ballard's reputation. After the owners death in 1990, however, she was involved in a bitter dispute with Ballards children Bill, Mary Elizabeth and Harold Jr. over his estate. Angry teammates trashed their dressing room in response. 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. Commented former Leafs' captain, Ballard had special gold medals made up for the Canadian team, after they were expelled from the, At the same postgame show, Ballard proceeded to get into an on-air argument with Dick Beddoes, which involved Beddoes saying Ballard would be better suited to guessing weights at the, For his 85th birthday party, Ballard invited Hunt, who was then with the, Biographical information and career statistics from, This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 17:05. He was convicted of fraud and sent to Millhaven Institution. Veteran. He won Stanley Cups in 1962, 1963, 1964 and 1967, all as part-owner. He later reversed the names and referred to himself as Harold E. Ballard. After being fined, he backed down and put the names in the opposite colours. Ballard was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as Edwin Harold Ballard. 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. 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. In an obituary published in the Star and Globe and Mail, the family wrote: Mother always referred to Harold as the love of her life and sadly never seemed to be able to get past his passing. 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. At age 54, Ballard was the oldest member of the group, which were otherwise all in their 30s and 40s. "Look at what he did in that year he and Peter Larsen ran Maple Leaf Gardens," says Michael Cohl, the legendary concert promoter, who with Mr. Ballard and David Wolinsky formed Concert Productions International in 1973. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame (1977) and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame (1987). Ballard remained as de facto general manager even when Imlach recovered. "Lanny McDonald trade has Sittler in tears," Jim Kernaghan. Mr. Finkelstein's True North record label and artist management company was taking off, and so he withdrew from the concert promotion game. Along with a sister and a brother, Mr. Ballard grew up in the towering shadow of his father's loud, blustery life. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Soon after taking over as majority owner, he forced out several longtime front-office personnel and replaced them with his own men. Learn more about merges. [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]. Beloved husband of the late Joan McKee (nee Buss). He said it served the guy right, that it would do him some good.''. 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. His father was the foreman of a machinery company and his mother took in boarders. According to Ballard's lawyer, his estate was worth less than $50 million. He had his own brand of patriotism. 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. 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. 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. 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. James Harold Ballard (1934 - 2019) from Charlotte, NC. "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.". Find the obituary of Rev. Ballard was an owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL) as well as their home arena, Maple Leaf Gardens. Within three years under the new owners, profits at the Gardens had tripled to just under $1 million. Harold Virgil Ballard [ 1] + 1929 - 2015 (86 years) Has 18 ancestors but no descendants in this family tree. I think there was a genuineness (to her caring) about his welfare, Stellick said. However, the Maple Leafs under Ballard were one of the league's most financially successful teams. "He was in the shadow of his father and maybe I got more attention, but he was awfully sharp. 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. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. 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. Imlach never returned to work and his contract was allowed to expire. 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. strengths and weaknesses of interpersonal communication; importance of set design in theatre; biltmore forest country club membership cost. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Loving father of Alan McKee (Beverly) of Calgary, Nancy Buckham (David) of Burlington, Karen Charlebois (Del) of Newcastle and Brian McKee of St. Catharines. Burke Mortuary - Newton-Conover You saw the seeds of a great promoter. 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. Under Day and Ballard, the Nationals won the Memorial Cup at the end of the 193536 season. You can always change this later in your Account settings. 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. "Silent runner or not, an incident in 1989 put Mr. Ballard in the public arena, where the light was not always flattering. 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. That deal closed in 1994, and shortly after Stavro bought Ballard's shares from the estate for $34 a share or $75 million. [25] After the Tiger Cats beat the Toronto Argonauts in the 1986 Eastern Final, Ballard said "You guys may still be overpaid, but after today, no one can call you losers. He installed himself as president and chairman of Maple Leaf Gardens and governor of the Maple Leafs. In 1969, painters doing over the Gardens' television booth used (perhaps unknowingly) a dozen or more of these banners to catch paint drips. 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. 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. Ballard booked The Beatles on each of their three North American tours from 19641966. Following the 1930 racing season, the Yacht Club sponsored a senior team in the Ontario Hockey Association called the Toronto National Sea Fleas. He tried to micromanage the team, interfering with coaches and players. Harold Ballard in California We found 17 records for Harold Ballard in North Highlands, Inglewood and 14 other cities in California. 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. One drunken, hollering student jumped into their front seat looking for a ride, scaring the kids in the back seat. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. 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. There was an error deleting this problem.