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Joe Ballad, Federal Marshal, Dies on Goodwill Trip To Mexico
November 26, 1940—The Oklahoman—W. Joe Ballard, United States Marshal of Oklahoma, died in Mexico City of a sudden illness.
The long-time peace officer was 62 yeas old, was a member of the Oklahoma “goodwill” party which arrived in Mexico City last Monday for the international football match to be played there between a Mexico City team and the Capitol Hill high school eleven.
Ballard died while Frank Smith, Oklahoma City chief of police, was talking to his son, Joe P. Ballard, by phone. Smith’ called the younger Ballard, who is a deputy sheriff here, to tell him his father was ill.
Death Follows Quickly
Before the conversation was concluded, the marshal died. Death was attributed to a brain hemorrhage.
Information from Mexico City indicated the marshal had been in high spirits, and apparently in good health, during the trip. Tuesday morning, he made a sightseeing tour of Mexico’s capital city with Smith and his wife’ Leonard Dickerson, city councilman and his wife, and Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Robison.
The marshal complained of stomach distress, and returned to his hotel. Feeling worse, he sent for a doctor and died while the physician was examining him.
The Mexico City coroner Tuesday night returned official verdict of death from cerebral hemorrhage. The body will be brought to Oklahoma City as soon as it is released by the Mexican government, probably Thursday. Mr. and Mrs. Robison and possibly others will accompany the body.
Came to State in 1908
Ballard’s full name was William Joseph, but he never used it. He widely known as “W. Joe,” just plain “Joe,” or “Uncle Joe,”
The marshal is survived by his wife, Mary c. 2617 West Park Place, and two sons, Joe P., 34 years old, of the home address, and Hardin, 37, of 316 Northwest Twenty-second Street.
Ballard was born March 30, 1878, in Liberty, Clay County, Missouri, and married there, his wife being the former Mary C. Porter. The family came to Jefferson County, Oklahoma, in 1908, and Ballard was elected sheriff of the county, retaining the post until 1925.
A Neighbor of Josh Lee
He moved to Norman that year, so his sons could attend the University of Oklahoma and he became a neighbor and close friend of Josh Lee, United States senator, who was then professor public speaking at the university.
During the following years Ballard saved successively as deputy sheriff of Cleveland County, investigator for the state bureau of criminal investigation and identification and other positions as investigator and peace officer.
He was made United States Marshal in July 1937.
The marshal was a horse enthusiast. His desk in the federal building here is littered with miniature horses and other racing paraphernalia, and among his proudest possession is a racing shoe from the hoof of Man O’ War.
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