Dale Henriod Ballard 1922 ~ 2005 Dale Henriod Ballard passed away at Cottonwood Hospital on June 20, 2005 at the age of 82. He was born in Magna, Utah on December 12, 1922 to Ross Day Ballard and Ruby Henriod. His family moved to Draper when he was four, where he was raised with seven brothers and two sisters in a two-room house. Dale's father taught all the family the ethic of hard work and perseverance--an ethic that became Dale's standard. Dale attended school at Draper Elementary, Jordan Jr. High and Jordan High School. In junior high and high school, he was a clarinet player and drum major. In high school he won the pentathlon record of 42 straight basketball sinks in one minute, a record that still stands. He was a very fine athlete and participated in a number of sports during high school, college, and while serving in the Army. Out of high school he entered the Army Infantry. At one time, he and four of his brothers were serving in the Armed Forces during World War II. His tour of duty lasted four years and he eventually became Platoon Sergeant in the 3rd Army Infantry in Europe and worked in General Patton's headquarters in charge of enlisted men in the emergency return section. While stationed in Florida, just prior to his overseas assignment, he met and married Alice Irene Baer on March 11, 1944. Just days after their marriage Dale was sent overseas while Alice remained in Florida, serving in the WAC. Returning home from the war he became one of the many men to make use of the GI Bill. He received his degree from the University of Utah in Pharmacology, and upon graduation, immediately went to work for Parke Davis (a pharmaceutical company). He graduated top of his class at the Parke Davis training school and was assigned the Grand Junction, Colorado area. This was one of the poorest sales areas in the nation but within two years he turned it into their number one sales district. During the time he lived in Grand Junction he acquired a small stipend through uranium claims and desiring to return to his roots, he requested a transfer with Parke Davis to Utah. They refused his transfer, so with his claim money he returned to Utah and co-founded Deseret Pharmaceutical Company in 1955. The company had very humble beginnings selling pharmaceutical products and he often used his home as the overflow production area. Deseret was the first medical device company in Utah, and had remarkable success when it introduced the first disposable operating mask. Deseret was essentially the first company to invent, manufacture, and market many disposable medical products. Deseret was listed on the NYSE and enjoyed substantial growth and profit. The company was eventually sold to Warner Lambert in 1976. From 1976 to 1978, Dale worked as a consultant for Warner Lambert on research and development until he parted company and began Ballard Medical. This was also a medical device company, with its main facility eventually located on the west side of the freeway in Draper. The company grew through a number of world wide acquisitions and was listed on the NYSE. It was sold to Kimberly Clark in 1999. During his 45 year career in the medical field, Dale made an enduring impression on the economy of Utah. By one account, these two companies employed over 70,000 people during the period Dale served as President. Additionally, many men and women achieved wealth as they bought and held stock in both Deseret and Ballard Medical. His companies provided the training and springboard for other individuals starting medical device companies in the Salt Lake valley. For his tremendous contribution to Utah's economy Dale received the honor of "Entrepreneur of the Decade" in 2000, from a prestigious Utah venture capital club. Despite his great success, Dale considered himself a dirt farmer. In 1964, he bought a farm located just off Fort Street in Draper. Farming sugar beets, hay, cattle and corn was one way he taught his children to work. For years the resident of Draper would see the familiar sight of Dale in coveralls and an old straw hat with shovel or hoe in hand. The farm was his hobby and he raised volumes of sweet corn to give to the employees at his companies. When the farm was sold in 2001, it was the largest undeveloped parcel on the Draper flat land--a total of 180- acres. To many people the farm represented the heritage and traditional lifestyle of Draper. Dale was an avid fisherman and enjoyed many a fishing trip with family and company employees. His favorite fishing holes were scattered along the Madison River in Montana. He seldom came home without a substantial number of impressive trout. Most mornings found him at the local cafe sharing stories with his brothers. His family ties were strong and he always considered himself just "one of the boys" regardless of his success or financial standing. His hometown roots sank deep and his friendly ways earned him the respect and love of many Draper and Salt Lake Valley Residents. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren will miss his familiar "Hello Pal" as he shared his infectious enthusiasm for life and his commitment to hard work. His was the consummate example of unpretentious charity and simple goodness--a truly remarkable leader in his family, in the business world, and in his community. Dale is survived by his wife of 66 years, Alice Irene, Holladay; son, Dale H. Jr. (Jane), Draper; son, Frank W. (Gail), Provo; daughter, Pamela, Draper; 14 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren; brothers, Robert, Melvin (Barbara), Wayne (Alice), Bruce (Renee); sister, Rachel Kimball (Dale), all Draper; sister-in-law, Margaret Ballard, Draper. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ross and Ruby; brothers, Ross H., Gene H., Garth; sister, Barbara Allen. Funeral services will be held Friday, June 24, 2005, at 11:00 a.m. in the Draper LDS Stake Center located at 13085 South 300 East, Draper, Utah. Friends may call at the stake center on Thursday, June 23, 2005, from 6-8 p.m. or Friday from 9:45-10:45 a.m. Interment, Draper Cemetery.
Published in the Salt Lake Tribune from 6/22/2005 - 6/23/2005.