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Politics


Long-time Akron Mayor Ballard dies
Republican served the Democratic city through the late 60s and 70s
by WKSU's MARK URYCKI


Senior Reporter
Mark Urycki
 
Akron Mayor John Ballard, a Republican, served the Democratic city from 1966 through 1979.
Courtesy of City of Akron
In The Region:

A long time mayor of Akron has died.

Republican John Ballard took office in 1966, and led his native city through the 1970’s. He managed Akron as it struggled with racial and labor strife and then economic losses as manufacturing jobs moved to the South.

Former Mayor Roy Ray, who was finance director at the time, said Ballard made decisions based on what was best for the city and that helped him get re-elected in a city where Democrats outnumbered Republicans 2-1.

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“He was unique in terms of the fact that … he made decisions based upon what the facts were. He never cared about the politics of it. It didn’t enter into his decisions making. He was, no question, a person who served in a bipartisan manner.” 

Roy Ray was elected mayor when Ballard left office in 1979.

Before becoming Akron’s mayor, Ballard served in World War II, attended law school at the University of Michigan and was an FBI agent. He died Saturday at age 89 after a struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.   

 


(Click image for larger view.)

Four Akron mayors: Roy Ray, Don Plusquellic, Tom Sawyer and John Ballard.
Listener Comments:

Mayor Ballard (along with Charles Booth) was my Sunday school teacher years ago. He had a series of classes where he played Jesus Christ Superstar. We discussed what the music meant to us. Not only was his class interesting it was fun and relative to our age group. He had a great way of helping us see what was right without being judgmental. I always admired him and his integrity. He made an impression on my whole life. He will be very missed.


Posted by: Dorothy (Akron) on May 8, 2012 9:05AM
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