U.S. Air Force Veteran And Entrepreneur Was 78 Years Old

One of the best-known aviators in South Carolina and south Georgia has Gone West at the age of 78. Gerald Ballard passed away December 4. The cause of death was not reported.

According to an obituary published by the Augusta Chronicle, Ballard established the Ballard Truck and Tire Company in Augusta, GA, but he had a passion for aviation. In information posted by the South Carolina Aviation Hall of Fame, which inducted Ballard in 2004, he began pumping gas into airplanes and doing chores at Shannon Airport in Fredericksburg, VA at the age of 10. He enlisted in the Air Force as an aircraft mechanic after graduating from high school, and served a Crew Chief of F100 airplanes at Wheeless AFB in Tripoli, Libya for two years. He returned to the States and was stationed at Moody AFB in Valdosta, GA until he was honorably discharged in 1964.

Ballard bought his first airplane, a C-170, in 1966, which he owned until his death. He was president of the local Breakfast Club for 23 years.

He relocated to Graniteville, SC in 1986, where he built a hangar at SC17 just outside Aiken, SC, for his nine aircraft, including the C-170.

An Aero-News reader informs us that Ballard passed away sitting in his truck in the parking lot of his business. He was not found until the following day.

Services for Gerald Ballard were held Sunday.

(Image from SC Aviation Hall of Fame)

FMI: scaaonline.com/?hall-of-fame=gerald-m-ballard