Ball, George Eugene

George Eugene Ball was born in Detroit, Michigan on 25 September 1926. His parents were Eugene and Mary Ball. Ball completed his early education in Detroit at St. Theresa Primary School and Catholic Central High School. He also was a member of the Boy Scouts in his childhood and contributed it to one of the factors that led him to a career in entomology.

He entered Cornell University for his undergraduate degree, only completing one year before entering the military during the Second World War. Ball enlisted in the Marine Corps in September 1944, just before his eighteenth birthday with his father’s permission. He took part hi the Battle of Okinawa and was also posted in Tientsin, China. For his service Ball was awarded the Purple Heart, a Presidential Unit Citation for the Okinawan Campaign, the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Medal, and the Victory Medal.

Following his military served in 1946 he returned to Cornell University to complete his undergraduate degree. In 1950 he completed his Masters in Science also from Cornell. While at Cornell, then doctoral student Kay Fetherston, whom he married in 1949. They had two sons, Eric and Stephen. Ball completed his Ph.D. in Cornell before taking a position at the University of Alberta (U of A) in the Department of Entomology in 1954. Ball would be a professor at the U of A for 38 years, including 10 years as the Chairman of the Department of Entomology. During his time as a professor he taught both undergraduate and graduate level courses, later in his career focusing on Insect Systematics.

Throughout his career Ball took part in field work, leading to traveling. He also published over 130 publications and edited 5 books in his career. Ball also worked to identify numerous species of beetles, for which he had a vast knowledge of.

Ball was also an active member of entomological societies and organizations. He acted as President of the Entomological Society of Alberta ( 1957-1958), the Coleopterists Society (1972-1973), and the Entomological Society of Canada (1981-1982). He served as a founding member of the Biological Survey of Canada and was Chair of the Scientific Committee.

Ball retired in 1992, however continued to work as taxonomist and Emeritus Curator of the E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum. In 2017, Ball remarried Carol Paetz, following the passing of his first wife in 2014. Ball passed away on 12 January, 2019 in Edmonton, Alberta.

Updated by M.F. 20 Jan. 2022.

https://www.ualberta.ca/biological-sciences/bio-sci-news/2019/january/in-memoriam-dr-george-ball.html (accessed 20 Jan. 2022)

http://esc-sec.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Obit_Ball-George-2019.2.pdf (accessed 20 Jan. 2022)