Pre & Teresa Celebrate his 96th Birthday! |
Dear Delta Friends --- Please let me express to everyone my sincere appreciation for the many messages and good wishes we received on the occasion of my 96th birthday. I was overwhelmed by the cards, calls and E-mails from previous associates, both active and retired, that brought back treasured memories from my wonderful years at Delta. Your words were kind and helped to make this a memorable occasion for Teresa and me. Attached are two pictures that were taken at the party. Age does nothing to improve appearances and what you see is what you get; but at least we're still here and kicking. Pre |
#97! "Let's show this grand old man how much we love, admire and appreciate him with a deluge of birthday cards and phone calls on his 97th birthday on September 6th." (Incidentally, Teresa's birthday will follow on Sept. 15th.) Phone (210) 829-0079. Email: Pre Ball < PreBofSA@aol.com> Thanks, Dana Jones August 16, 2003 November 17, 2003 Dave, Dana Jones asked that I send you Dad's new address in San Antonio. As you know he had a small stroke which resulted in increased weakness in his legs and in some increased loss in his short time memory. He and mother have moved into the assisted living section of their retirement home so that they will have assistance in dealing with daily medications, laundry, and other lifestyle issues. My brother was in town this past weekend and the four of us went out to eat every day since the quality of the food in the new area is one of Dad's pet peeves. We had a great time discussing old flying days. As before, his vision and hearing problems provide him the most difficulty in his daily living, but one-on-one he does pretty well. The new address is just a change in the apartment number. It is: Captain Thomas P. Ball 311 Nottingham West, Apt. 129AL San Antonio, TX, 78209 Pre Jr. 98th!! Thanks to retired Captain Dana Jones for this report on retired Captain and Vice President T.P. Pre Ball, his injury, and his upcoming 98th birthday. Dave I know everyone will be concerned to learn that "Pre" Ball had a bad fall last week and went through a period of confusion and uncertainty, but his son ( retired Air Force Major General, Pre Ball, Jr) says his condition improves daily. It would boost his morale greatly to hear from everyone via e-mail or cards. (talking on he phone is very difficult). On Monday, September 6 he will celebrate is 98th birthday....so make your greetings two-fold, will you? Pre Jr's email address is prebofsa@aol.com. regards from Dana and Paige Jones our e-mail address, through our daughter, is jbroom42@earthlink.net) |
SAN ANTONIO Thomas 'Pre' Ball, 99, Delta pilot extraordinaire By KAY POWELL The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Published on: 03/11/06 Thomas Prioleau "Pre" Ball was a barnstorming aerobatic pilot who looked every inch the part when he went to work for Delta Air Lines in 1934. He was the very definition of a pilot in those glamorous early days, said Whit Hawkins of Marco Island, Fla., who retired as Delta's president in 1993. Family Thomas 'Pre' Ball delivered Delta's first commercial jetliner to Georgia, a Douglas DC-8 in 1958. "He was small of stature and was always immaculately dressed. He wore his uniform beautifully. He had a little mustache. You could just see him with a silk scarf, leather helmet and goggles," Mr. Hawkins said. Mr. Ball moved from Delta's station manager in Charleston, S.C., to the airline's chief pilot, to vice president of flight operations when he retired in 1971. He was so highly respected at Delta that when he retired, his colleagues presented him with a new BMW sports car, Mr. Hawkins said. As Delta's chief pilot, he could fly pretty much whatever he wanted to whenever he wanted to, he said. Mr. Ball delivered Delta's first commercial jetliner to Georgia, a Douglas DC-8 in 1958. Upon being inducted into the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame in April 2005, when he was 98, Mr. Ball attended the ceremony and delivered an acceptance speech. The memorial service for Mr. Ball, 99, formerly of College Park, is 11 a.m. today at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in San Antonio. He died Feb. 23 at his San Antonio residence, where he had moved in 1995. The body was cremated. Porter Loring Mortuary in San Antonio is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Ball developed model safety programs for Delta and set speed records, some of which have never been broken. In setting the transcontinental speed record 31 minutes and 54 seconds for the maiden flight of Delta's Convair 880 in 1960, all Delta was listening to his cockpit transmissions, and it was thrilling, Mr. Hawkins said. Comparing those days to pilots today, Mr. Ball said in a 1991 interview, "I think we had a lot more fun than they do, but I think we worked a hell of a lot harder." Survivors include two sons, Thomas Prioleau "Pre" Ball Jr. of San Antonio and Espy Daniel Ball of Tampa; six grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. |
