The Courier-Journal (Louisville KY) 7 March 1975, Fri, pg 12
Thomas Ballantine, Sr., Civic and Political Leader Dies at 72
Thomas A. Ballantine, Sr., 72, retired president of Louisville Title Insurance Co. and a leading force in civic and Democratic affairs in Louisville and Kentucky for 48 years, died at 8:25 a.m. yesterday at Kentucky Baptist Hospital.
Ballantine, a jovial and sandy-haired man, was a worker for causes of all kinds, usually without pay.
He had been assistant Louisville law director, a Jefferson Circuit judge pro-tem, president of the old Community Chest, chairman of its Health and Welfare Council, chest campaign chairman, president of the Better Business Bureau, a director of the old Louisville Board of Trade, member of the Kentucky State Fair Board, president of the Louisville and Kentucky Chambers of Commerce and a director of the Louisville Park Theatrical Association.
One of Ballantine's most recent public-service appointments was to the chairmanship of Mayor Harvey I. Sloane's Commission of Financial Ethics set up last fall to check on the financial dealings of city employees.
Born in Rumsey, McLean County, Ky., Ballantine used to ride the ferry across the Green River to attend school at Calhoun. When he was 15, he decided to buy the ferry. He borrowed $1,000 from a bank. Cranking the ferry across the river himself, he paid the money back in three months.
He decided on a law career and got his degree at the University of Kentucky. There he managed athletic teams and held memberships in many campus groups.
He came to Louisville in 1925, he once said, "a 22-year-old lawyer, a boy born right in the heart of the country," to make his way in Kentucky's biggest city.
He entered law practice with W. W. Thum and later with J. Van Dyke Norman. After serving as a field assistant with the Travelers Insurance Co., he formed a law partnership with Ben F. Ewing and Frank A. Ropke, both of whom later became circuit judges. In 1939 Ballantine organized a law firm with A. J. Carroll and Henry E. McElwain.
Ballantine made his first political splash in 1932, managing the campaign that sent John Young Brown to Congress from the state at large. In 1957 he was chairman of the Democratic campaign that elected Mayor Bruce Hoblitzell and County Judge B. C. Van Arsdale.
Ballantine made his own first and only political race in 1934, seeking the Democratic nomination to Congress from the old 3rd District. He lost.
When World War II broke out, he served as chairman of the disaster-relief committee of the Louisville Red Cross, then entered the Army Air Force in 1942 as a captain in combat intelligence. In court-martial work, he was in demand all over the country as a defense counsel.
In 1945 Ballantine turned his full business attention to an old client, Louisville Taxicab & Transfer Co., and was elected president in 1946.
About this time his whirlwind of civic activities began in earnest. As a member of the State Fair Board, he provided much of the push that got the plans for new Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center underway.
As president of the Kentucky Independent College Foundation, Ballantine urged businesses to contribute more generously to private colleges.
Ballantine, for all his diverse interests and his accessibility was not the kind who "can't say no." He refused to lend his name or time to projects that did not appeal to him.
After Louisville Taxicab was sold in 1958, Ballantine resigned and became vice president of Glenmore Distilleries Co., Yellowstone Division. Later he resigned that job to head Louisville Title.
In 1965, Ballantine was cochairman with Archibald P. Cochran of a nonpartisan drive to pass a $29.8 million city bond issue for a number of projects, including new University of Louisville medical and dental schools and an addition to the Louisville Free Public Library.
The campaign was successful and the two men were showered with awards and honors, including the WHAS "Man of the Year" award, brotherhood awards from the National Conference of Christians and Jews and "citizen laureate" awards from the Young Woman's Club.
Some of Ballantine's other civic work, which began with collecting for the Community Chest in 1927, included membership on the city-county Board of Health, chairman of the Derby Festival Committee, head of a Kentucky Chamber of Commerce task force that recommended solutions for school problems, member of the Democratic State Executive Committee, UK trustee, chairman of the Mountain Laurel Festival and Chairman of Louisville Central Area.
His alma mater gave him a distinguished alumnus award in 1964.
Ballantine was a faculty member and trustee of the old Jefferson School of Law, a chairman of the board of Boys' Haven, a director of the Bourbon Beef Cattle Association, Our Own Deliveries, Inc., the Ohio River Sand Co., the Commonwealth Life Insurance Co. and Spindletop Research.
He was a former president of the National Association of Taxicab Owners, a director of the UK Athletics Association, president of the Louisville Council for Public Education, and a member or chairman of several U.S. Chamber of Commerce committees and a chamber director.
The Jefferson County Youth Recreation Association honored him in 1953 as "Man of the Century" and the Advertising Club of Louisville gave him its distinguished leadership award. Transylvania College in 1954 cited him for outstanding achievements in business and community service.
Ballantine was a member of the Louisville, Kentucky and American bar associations, serving as president of the Louisville group in 1939. He was a member of the Audubon Country Club, the Pendennis and Rotary clubs.
Ballantine once raised sheep and pheasants at his home on Shelbyville Road.
His wife, the former Marie Pfeiffer, once said that in spite of her husband's many extracurricular activities, he was usually home at night. If he wasn't, she went out with him.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons, John T., William C., and Circuit Judge Thomas A. Ballantine Jr.; and eight grandchildren. He is also survived by six sisters, Mrs. Ham Glenn, Mrs. J. Sam Johnson, Mrs. Sherrill Johnson and Mrs. Max Bisson, all of Owensboro, Ky., Mrs. Fred Scott of Madisonville, Ky., and Mrs. John P. Bell.
…..Burial services in Cave Hill Cemetery.
[Provided by CatheaC #47339429]
Thomas Ballantine, Sr., Civic and Political Leader Dies at 72
Thomas A. Ballantine, Sr., 72, retired president of Louisville Title Insurance Co. and a leading force in civic and Democratic affairs in Louisville and Kentucky for 48 years, died at 8:25 a.m. yesterday at Kentucky Baptist Hospital.
Ballantine, a jovial and sandy-haired man, was a worker for causes of all kinds, usually without pay.
He had been assistant Louisville law director, a Jefferson Circuit judge pro-tem, president of the old Community Chest, chairman of its Health and Welfare Council, chest campaign chairman, president of the Better Business Bureau, a director of the old Louisville Board of Trade, member of the Kentucky State Fair Board, president of the Louisville and Kentucky Chambers of Commerce and a director of the Louisville Park Theatrical Association.
One of Ballantine's most recent public-service appointments was to the chairmanship of Mayor Harvey I. Sloane's Commission of Financial Ethics set up last fall to check on the financial dealings of city employees.
Born in Rumsey, McLean County, Ky., Ballantine used to ride the ferry across the Green River to attend school at Calhoun. When he was 15, he decided to buy the ferry. He borrowed $1,000 from a bank. Cranking the ferry across the river himself, he paid the money back in three months.
He decided on a law career and got his degree at the University of Kentucky. There he managed athletic teams and held memberships in many campus groups.
He came to Louisville in 1925, he once said, "a 22-year-old lawyer, a boy born right in the heart of the country," to make his way in Kentucky's biggest city.
He entered law practice with W. W. Thum and later with J. Van Dyke Norman. After serving as a field assistant with the Travelers Insurance Co., he formed a law partnership with Ben F. Ewing and Frank A. Ropke, both of whom later became circuit judges. In 1939 Ballantine organized a law firm with A. J. Carroll and Henry E. McElwain.
Ballantine made his first political splash in 1932, managing the campaign that sent John Young Brown to Congress from the state at large. In 1957 he was chairman of the Democratic campaign that elected Mayor Bruce Hoblitzell and County Judge B. C. Van Arsdale.
Ballantine made his own first and only political race in 1934, seeking the Democratic nomination to Congress from the old 3rd District. He lost.
When World War II broke out, he served as chairman of the disaster-relief committee of the Louisville Red Cross, then entered the Army Air Force in 1942 as a captain in combat intelligence. In court-martial work, he was in demand all over the country as a defense counsel.
In 1945 Ballantine turned his full business attention to an old client, Louisville Taxicab & Transfer Co., and was elected president in 1946.
About this time his whirlwind of civic activities began in earnest. As a member of the State Fair Board, he provided much of the push that got the plans for new Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center underway.
As president of the Kentucky Independent College Foundation, Ballantine urged businesses to contribute more generously to private colleges.
Ballantine, for all his diverse interests and his accessibility was not the kind who "can't say no." He refused to lend his name or time to projects that did not appeal to him.
After Louisville Taxicab was sold in 1958, Ballantine resigned and became vice president of Glenmore Distilleries Co., Yellowstone Division. Later he resigned that job to head Louisville Title.
In 1965, Ballantine was cochairman with Archibald P. Cochran of a nonpartisan drive to pass a $29.8 million city bond issue for a number of projects, including new University of Louisville medical and dental schools and an addition to the Louisville Free Public Library.
The campaign was successful and the two men were showered with awards and honors, including the WHAS "Man of the Year" award, brotherhood awards from the National Conference of Christians and Jews and "citizen laureate" awards from the Young Woman's Club.
Some of Ballantine's other civic work, which began with collecting for the Community Chest in 1927, included membership on the city-county Board of Health, chairman of the Derby Festival Committee, head of a Kentucky Chamber of Commerce task force that recommended solutions for school problems, member of the Democratic State Executive Committee, UK trustee, chairman of the Mountain Laurel Festival and Chairman of Louisville Central Area.
His alma mater gave him a distinguished alumnus award in 1964.
Ballantine was a faculty member and trustee of the old Jefferson School of Law, a chairman of the board of Boys' Haven, a director of the Bourbon Beef Cattle Association, Our Own Deliveries, Inc., the Ohio River Sand Co., the Commonwealth Life Insurance Co. and Spindletop Research.
He was a former president of the National Association of Taxicab Owners, a director of the UK Athletics Association, president of the Louisville Council for Public Education, and a member or chairman of several U.S. Chamber of Commerce committees and a chamber director.
The Jefferson County Youth Recreation Association honored him in 1953 as "Man of the Century" and the Advertising Club of Louisville gave him its distinguished leadership award. Transylvania College in 1954 cited him for outstanding achievements in business and community service.
Ballantine was a member of the Louisville, Kentucky and American bar associations, serving as president of the Louisville group in 1939. He was a member of the Audubon Country Club, the Pendennis and Rotary clubs.
Ballantine once raised sheep and pheasants at his home on Shelbyville Road.
His wife, the former Marie Pfeiffer, once said that in spite of her husband's many extracurricular activities, he was usually home at night. If he wasn't, she went out with him.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons, John T., William C., and Circuit Judge Thomas A. Ballantine Jr.; and eight grandchildren. He is also survived by six sisters, Mrs. Ham Glenn, Mrs. J. Sam Johnson, Mrs. Sherrill Johnson and Mrs. Max Bisson, all of Owensboro, Ky., Mrs. Fred Scott of Madisonville, Ky., and Mrs. John P. Bell.
…..Burial services in Cave Hill Cemetery.
[Provided by CatheaC #47339429]
The Courier-Journal (Louisville KY) 7 March 1975, Fri, pg 12
Thomas Ballantine, Sr., Civic and Political Leader Dies at 72
Thomas A. Ballantine, Sr., 72, retired president of Louisville Title Insurance Co. and a leading force in civic and Democratic affairs in Louisville and Kentucky for 48 years, died at 8:25 a.m. yesterday at Kentucky Baptist Hospital.
Ballantine, a jovial and sandy-haired man, was a worker for causes of all kinds, usually without pay.
He had been assistant Louisville law director, a Jefferson Circuit judge pro-tem, president of the old Community Chest, chairman of its Health and Welfare Council, chest campaign chairman, president of the Better Business Bureau, a director of the old Louisville Board of Trade, member of the Kentucky State Fair Board, president of the Louisville and Kentucky Chambers of Commerce and a director of the Louisville Park Theatrical Association.
One of Ballantine's most recent public-service appointments was to the chairmanship of Mayor Harvey I. Sloane's Commission of Financial Ethics set up last fall to check on the financial dealings of city employees.
Born in Rumsey, McLean County, Ky., Ballantine used to ride the ferry across the Green River to attend school at Calhoun. When he was 15, he decided to buy the ferry. He borrowed $1,000 from a bank. Cranking the ferry across the river himself, he paid the money back in three months.
He decided on a law career and got his degree at the University of Kentucky. There he managed athletic teams and held memberships in many campus groups.
He came to Louisville in 1925, he once said, "a 22-year-old lawyer, a boy born right in the heart of the country," to make his way in Kentucky's biggest city.
He entered law practice with W. W. Thum and later with J. Van Dyke Norman. After serving as a field assistant with the Travelers Insurance Co., he formed a law partnership with Ben F. Ewing and Frank A. Ropke, both of whom later became circuit judges. In 1939 Ballantine organized a law firm with A. J. Carroll and Henry E. McElwain.
Ballantine made his first political splash in 1932, managing the campaign that sent John Young Brown to Congress from the state at large. In 1957 he was chairman of the Democratic campaign that elected Mayor Bruce Hoblitzell and County Judge B. C. Van Arsdale.
Ballantine made his own first and only political race in 1934, seeking the Democratic nomination to Congress from the old 3rd District. He lost.
When World War II broke out, he served as chairman of the disaster-relief committee of the Louisville Red Cross, then entered the Army Air Force in 1942 as a captain in combat intelligence. In court-martial work, he was in demand all over the country as a defense counsel.
In 1945 Ballantine turned his full business attention to an old client, Louisville Taxicab & Transfer Co., and was elected president in 1946.
About this time his whirlwind of civic activities began in earnest. As a member of the State Fair Board, he provided much of the push that got the plans for new Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center underway.
As president of the Kentucky Independent College Foundation, Ballantine urged businesses to contribute more generously to private colleges.
Ballantine, for all his diverse interests and his accessibility was not the kind who "can't say no." He refused to lend his name or time to projects that did not appeal to him.
After Louisville Taxicab was sold in 1958, Ballantine resigned and became vice president of Glenmore Distilleries Co., Yellowstone Division. Later he resigned that job to head Louisville Title.
In 1965, Ballantine was cochairman with Archibald P. Cochran of a nonpartisan drive to pass a $29.8 million city bond issue for a number of projects, including new University of Louisville medical and dental schools and an addition to the Louisville Free Public Library.
The campaign was successful and the two men were showered with awards and honors, including the WHAS "Man of the Year" award, brotherhood awards from the National Conference of Christians and Jews and "citizen laureate" awards from the Young Woman's Club.
Some of Ballantine's other civic work, which began with collecting for the Community Chest in 1927, included membership on the city-county Board of Health, chairman of the Derby Festival Committee, head of a Kentucky Chamber of Commerce task force that recommended solutions for school problems, member of the Democratic State Executive Committee, UK trustee, chairman of the Mountain Laurel Festival and Chairman of Louisville Central Area.
His alma mater gave him a distinguished alumnus award in 1964.
Ballantine was a faculty member and trustee of the old Jefferson School of Law, a chairman of the board of Boys' Haven, a director of the Bourbon Beef Cattle Association, Our Own Deliveries, Inc., the Ohio River Sand Co., the Commonwealth Life Insurance Co. and Spindletop Research.
He was a former president of the National Association of Taxicab Owners, a director of the UK Athletics Association, president of the Louisville Council for Public Education, and a member or chairman of several U.S. Chamber of Commerce committees and a chamber director.
The Jefferson County Youth Recreation Association honored him in 1953 as "Man of the Century" and the Advertising Club of Louisville gave him its distinguished leadership award. Transylvania College in 1954 cited him for outstanding achievements in business and community service.
Ballantine was a member of the Louisville, Kentucky and American bar associations, serving as president of the Louisville group in 1939. He was a member of the Audubon Country Club, the Pendennis and Rotary clubs.
Ballantine once raised sheep and pheasants at his home on Shelbyville Road.
His wife, the former Marie Pfeiffer, once said that in spite of her husband's many extracurricular activities, he was usually home at night. If he wasn't, she went out with him.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons, John T., William C., and Circuit Judge Thomas A. Ballantine Jr.; and eight grandchildren. He is also survived by six sisters, Mrs. Ham Glenn, Mrs. J. Sam Johnson, Mrs. Sherrill Johnson and Mrs. Max Bisson, all of Owensboro, Ky., Mrs. Fred Scott of Madisonville, Ky., and Mrs. John P. Bell.
…..Burial services in Cave Hill Cemetery.
[Provided by CatheaC #47339429]
Thomas Ballantine, Sr., Civic and Political Leader Dies at 72
Thomas A. Ballantine, Sr., 72, retired president of Louisville Title Insurance Co. and a leading force in civic and Democratic affairs in Louisville and Kentucky for 48 years, died at 8:25 a.m. yesterday at Kentucky Baptist Hospital.
Ballantine, a jovial and sandy-haired man, was a worker for causes of all kinds, usually without pay.
He had been assistant Louisville law director, a Jefferson Circuit judge pro-tem, president of the old Community Chest, chairman of its Health and Welfare Council, chest campaign chairman, president of the Better Business Bureau, a director of the old Louisville Board of Trade, member of the Kentucky State Fair Board, president of the Louisville and Kentucky Chambers of Commerce and a director of the Louisville Park Theatrical Association.
One of Ballantine's most recent public-service appointments was to the chairmanship of Mayor Harvey I. Sloane's Commission of Financial Ethics set up last fall to check on the financial dealings of city employees.
Born in Rumsey, McLean County, Ky., Ballantine used to ride the ferry across the Green River to attend school at Calhoun. When he was 15, he decided to buy the ferry. He borrowed $1,000 from a bank. Cranking the ferry across the river himself, he paid the money back in three months.
He decided on a law career and got his degree at the University of Kentucky. There he managed athletic teams and held memberships in many campus groups.
He came to Louisville in 1925, he once said, "a 22-year-old lawyer, a boy born right in the heart of the country," to make his way in Kentucky's biggest city.
He entered law practice with W. W. Thum and later with J. Van Dyke Norman. After serving as a field assistant with the Travelers Insurance Co., he formed a law partnership with Ben F. Ewing and Frank A. Ropke, both of whom later became circuit judges. In 1939 Ballantine organized a law firm with A. J. Carroll and Henry E. McElwain.
Ballantine made his first political splash in 1932, managing the campaign that sent John Young Brown to Congress from the state at large. In 1957 he was chairman of the Democratic campaign that elected Mayor Bruce Hoblitzell and County Judge B. C. Van Arsdale.
Ballantine made his own first and only political race in 1934, seeking the Democratic nomination to Congress from the old 3rd District. He lost.
When World War II broke out, he served as chairman of the disaster-relief committee of the Louisville Red Cross, then entered the Army Air Force in 1942 as a captain in combat intelligence. In court-martial work, he was in demand all over the country as a defense counsel.
In 1945 Ballantine turned his full business attention to an old client, Louisville Taxicab & Transfer Co., and was elected president in 1946.
About this time his whirlwind of civic activities began in earnest. As a member of the State Fair Board, he provided much of the push that got the plans for new Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center underway.
As president of the Kentucky Independent College Foundation, Ballantine urged businesses to contribute more generously to private colleges.
Ballantine, for all his diverse interests and his accessibility was not the kind who "can't say no." He refused to lend his name or time to projects that did not appeal to him.
After Louisville Taxicab was sold in 1958, Ballantine resigned and became vice president of Glenmore Distilleries Co., Yellowstone Division. Later he resigned that job to head Louisville Title.
In 1965, Ballantine was cochairman with Archibald P. Cochran of a nonpartisan drive to pass a $29.8 million city bond issue for a number of projects, including new University of Louisville medical and dental schools and an addition to the Louisville Free Public Library.
The campaign was successful and the two men were showered with awards and honors, including the WHAS "Man of the Year" award, brotherhood awards from the National Conference of Christians and Jews and "citizen laureate" awards from the Young Woman's Club.
Some of Ballantine's other civic work, which began with collecting for the Community Chest in 1927, included membership on the city-county Board of Health, chairman of the Derby Festival Committee, head of a Kentucky Chamber of Commerce task force that recommended solutions for school problems, member of the Democratic State Executive Committee, UK trustee, chairman of the Mountain Laurel Festival and Chairman of Louisville Central Area.
His alma mater gave him a distinguished alumnus award in 1964.
Ballantine was a faculty member and trustee of the old Jefferson School of Law, a chairman of the board of Boys' Haven, a director of the Bourbon Beef Cattle Association, Our Own Deliveries, Inc., the Ohio River Sand Co., the Commonwealth Life Insurance Co. and Spindletop Research.
He was a former president of the National Association of Taxicab Owners, a director of the UK Athletics Association, president of the Louisville Council for Public Education, and a member or chairman of several U.S. Chamber of Commerce committees and a chamber director.
The Jefferson County Youth Recreation Association honored him in 1953 as "Man of the Century" and the Advertising Club of Louisville gave him its distinguished leadership award. Transylvania College in 1954 cited him for outstanding achievements in business and community service.
Ballantine was a member of the Louisville, Kentucky and American bar associations, serving as president of the Louisville group in 1939. He was a member of the Audubon Country Club, the Pendennis and Rotary clubs.
Ballantine once raised sheep and pheasants at his home on Shelbyville Road.
His wife, the former Marie Pfeiffer, once said that in spite of her husband's many extracurricular activities, he was usually home at night. If he wasn't, she went out with him.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons, John T., William C., and Circuit Judge Thomas A. Ballantine Jr.; and eight grandchildren. He is also survived by six sisters, Mrs. Ham Glenn, Mrs. J. Sam Johnson, Mrs. Sherrill Johnson and Mrs. Max Bisson, all of Owensboro, Ky., Mrs. Fred Scott of Madisonville, Ky., and Mrs. John P. Bell.
…..Burial services in Cave Hill Cemetery.
[Provided by CatheaC #47339429]
Gravesite Details
Burial Date: 03/08/1975, Ref: Cemetery Records
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