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. 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. A celebration of life is planned for the Granite Club when pandemic restrictions are lifted. Hough relented, and the broadcast went on as scheduled. 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. 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.. She was 87. Ballard's children - Harold Jr., William and Mary Elizabeth Flynn - and his longtime companion, Yolanda Ballard, had visited him earlier Wednesday. Make a Memorial Donation . This became clear when the arena was dim for the first game. [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. 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. Harold Ballard Jr.: Scion of notable sports character and artist Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. The Stellicks and Howard Levitt, a family friend and lawyer, contend Yolanda deserved the settlement. 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 inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame (1977) and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame (1987). Years later, Williams would remark that all Ballard would want from his players was an honest day of hard work. We have set your language to Under coach Harry Watson, the team won the Allan Cup in 1932. 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). In fact, for a short while, he stood in for him. Newspapers Limited, 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. Ballard to Ottawa writer Earl McRae in the 1980s. Harold Ballard, Eccentric Owner of Toronto Hockey Team, Dead at 86 You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. He was convicted of fraud and sent to Millhaven Institution. Robert A. Ballard | Obituaries | lancasteronline.com MPD officer involved shooting takes life of Yukon man 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. When an outraged Bassett complained, Ballard demanded $3,500 for use of the lights. 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. Police surround the vehicle, and gunfire is heard on the video. None of the three was wearing a life jacket. Or, as The Globe and Mail's Stephen Brunt once put it, "a silver-spoon kid with survival instincts." Henry Ballard Obituary - Dallas, TX In the end, they reportedly settled on somewhere between $2 million and $5 million in total, plus two seats at the Gardens. The committee came to be known as the "Silver Seven". '', 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.''. She fought with Ballard's family and partners over Ballard's estate following his death. Please. Two months later, he was sentenced to nine years in a federal penitentiary. 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. Harold McKee Obituary - Peterborough, ON - Dignity Memorial A year later, they moved to the Gardens. Harold Ballard Jr., son of the late owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs, is very self-deprecating, but that doesn't mean he isn't astute or insightful. To make room for more seats, Ballard removed a large portrait of Queen Elizabeth II from the Gardens. Harold Otto Hallberg, age 89, of Jordan, MN, formerly of St. Paul, MN, passed peacefully on Friday, July 31, 2020, at Oak Terrace Senior Living, in Jordan. 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. Please include I Remember in the subject field. herculoids gloop and gleep sounds Sometimes, He's Terror of Toronto - Los Angeles Times She was indeed because I personally witnessed it Harolds companion always.. 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. In addition to sharing the Braves with Buffalo, he had notions of a second CFL franchise and big-league baseball, too. Echovita is an archive of public obituaries and death notices to keep you. ", (Indeed, Mr. Ballard was an enthusiastic chaser of properties to bring into Toronto. California Obituaries - Latest Obituaries in Grass Valley California ''He was an original, colorful and challenging individual,'' Mr. Ziegler said yesterday. Later that year, Ballard blocked Bassett's attempt to repurchase the Argos. 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. Following the 1930 racing season, the Yacht Club sponsored a senior team in the Ontario Hockey Association called the Toronto National Sea Fleas. He was recognized for this on his citation during his 1977 Hockey Hall of Fame induction. Sittler will stay put at least this season," Ken McKee. 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. All Along with a sister and a brother, Mr. Ballard grew up in the towering shadow of his father's loud, blustery life. He first gained attention in the late 1960s on the football gridiron of his alma mater, Waterloo Lutheran (now Wilfrid Laurier University). This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. Harold attended Upper Canada College as a boarding student until dropping out in his third year in 1919. But he did more than work for his father. GREAT NEWS! As a member of the National Yacht Club, Ballard became an avid racer of Sea Fleas, small outboard hydroplanes. Burke Mortuary - Newton-Conover But they were taken down (on the premise that they were obstructing some customers' views). Bill Ballard - Wikipedia 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. 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 1965, he sold tickets for two Beatles concerts on the same day, although the contract called for only one. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. [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. A social media post showed video of what appears to be the shooting. Facing an untenable situation, Bassett resigned as chairman and sold his shares to Ballard and Stafford Smythe in September 1971. She was led to the Lord by her grandfather at the age of 10 and dedicated her life to Christ at . [15] Ballard told the press that the real battle had been between Imlach and Eagleson, and Sittler just got caught in the crossfire. Obituary James Harold Ballard, of Sharpsburg, passed away Wednesday, December 23, 2020. This proved to be a serious strategic blunder, as Smythe and Ballard controlled almost half the company's shares between them. Harold Ballard | The Canadian Encyclopedia Please try again later. Obituaries - for Lincolnton Lincoln County, Cherryville, Stanley, Denver, Maiden . William. 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. Ballard was pulled from the water unconscious, but one of his friends died. They married in 1957 and had two children before he filed for divorce. Mr. Ballard disputed the accusation, telling her at one point that if he ever did assault her, "there won't be enough left to put in a hot dog.". For six years before World War I, Ballard and his family lived in Norristown, Pennsylvania. BALLARD, JEAN LORENA Jean Lorena Ballard, age 90, passed away Sunday, July 28, 2013 at Rose Haven Assisted Living Center in Menahga, MN. All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. Yolanda was obviously a die-hard Toronto Maple Leaf fan to her death, and never missed the home opener., Anyone can read Conversations, but to contribute, you should be a registered Torstar account holder. Ballard thus felt he had little financial incentive to sign better players. 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. Ballard leaves estate to charity - UPI Archives Beloved husband of the late Joan McKee (nee Buss). 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. His death set off a feeding frenzy that had already been begun over the iconic properties he controlled: the Toronto Maple Leafs and. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? 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 . Ballard was a very hands-on owner who quickly became known for being irascible and cantankerous. 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. In November 1961, Conn Smythe sold most of his shares in Maple Leaf Gardens Ltd. to a consortium of his son Stafford, Toronto Telegram owner John Bassett, and Ballard. Your account has been locked for 30 minutes due to too many failed sign in attempts. ava gardner family tree 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. The following season, Day and Ballard worked together to run a senior team sponsored by E. P. Taylor's Dominion Brewery. Failed to remove flower. 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. Until he acquired control of the team and Maple Leaf Gardens in 1972, Mr. Ballard was little known outside hockey circles. . 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. 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. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Its only a pellet gun, but its lifelike. Davidson had served in the Leafs organization for almost 40 years in various capacities. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. "Leafs' owner Ballard spends $1.3 million to buy the Tiger-Cats," Rick Matsumoto. He would coach one more game, for the senior Marlies, during the 1950 Allan Cup final, after head coach Joe Primeau's father died. In his graduating year, Mr. Ballard was a student union president who helped convince the school's governors to build an athletic facility. But Mr. Ballard became ill, called off the wedding and entered the hospital. 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. Imlach never returned to work and his contract was allowed to expire. ''I thought we were both going to get arrested. HAROLD BALLARD Years 1972-1990 Leafs record 596-736-207 Stanley Cups The skinny Sole ownership under Ballard proved disastrous both on and off the ice. You can search by first or last name, state and publication date. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. 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. Harold Fred Weber, Jr. - Tribute Archive "They loved each other deeply," Mr. Cohl says. BEVERLEY JOYCE BALLA February 17, 1929 ! 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. Priestley, the narrator and director of "Offside: the Harold Ballard Story, wants Canadians to draw their own conclusions on the irascible sports magnate who also owned the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Nevertheless, they still qualified for the playoffs under the playoff format in use at the time. 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. Harold was born in Seneca, SC on September 15, 1940, son of the late John Malcom and Eunice Tucker Sheriff. "His own boat was called Midnight Mischief, and it was aptly named," says John McDermott, the successful Scottish-Canadian tenor. As a young man, he loved working with horses on his aunt and uncles farm. Ballard was an owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL) as well as their home arena, Maple Leaf Gardens.