Wayne Ferguson
My deepest sympathies to the children of Patty Ballard Kelly, and to their families.
I'm Wayne Ferguson, an 83 year old that has wonderful, warm memories of the Ballard Family from many years ago. I began my banking career at the former French Lick State Bank in French Lick, Indiana...and remember handling banking transaction so often, as a "Teller", in the 1957-59 era. Our Bank was Trustee of the Ballard Trusts at that time. On January 1, 1959, the French Lick State Bank & the West Baden National Bank merged, becoming the Springs Valley National (later Springs Valley Bank & Trust Company. I became the Manager of the Trust Department around 1979 and continued in that position until leaving the banking career in 1984 to go into the Insurance & Real Estate Business.
During my time as Sr. VP & Trust Officer, I had occasion to travel to the Branch Ranch @ Big Horn, Wyoming, (owned by the Ballard Trust) to do the routine "visit", and was so impressed with the facilities...just an ideal place to relax & enjoy life to the fullest! I'm not certain of the Ranch Manager's name, but believe it was Dan Blaney, and he was just such a super, reliable gentleman, whom we relied on so much in managing the operation end of the Ranch.
During my earlier years in banking, I had the pleasure of meeting and talking with Mary Ballard Kelly (Mother of "Patty Ballard Kelly") many times...as well as also meeting and talking with her brother, Charles "Chad" Ballard, quite often.
Wonderful memories of this wonderful family that had their roots here in our little community of French Lick & West Baden, Indiana. It was an honor and a blessing to have had the privilege of knowing the Ballard Family, and of serving them via their banking services back in those some 35 to 40 years ago.
