Dorothy and Braudis Ballard

Dorothy Taylor Ballard was born September 3, 1920. Dorothy has lived in Williamstown, Kentucky all her life and graduated from Williamstown High School in 1938. She then graduated from WKU in 1942, earning degrees in English and music. After graduation, Dorothy dedicated her life to teaching. She taught at Mason High School from 1947 to 1953, and then at Williamstown Independent from 1958 to 1972, spending over 20 years in total in the classroom. Since retiring, she has traveled to 15 countries and most of the 50 states. Dorothy is now involved in the WISE Trust Fund and the Williamstown Baptist Church Super Seniors. In 1948, she was the first president of the Junior Women’s Club and later became an active member of the Grant County Women’s Club. Dorothy joined the Williamstown Woman’s Club in 2003, and in 2006 was recognized as the “Amazing Woman of Williamstown.”

Dorothy was married to Braudis L. “Floss” Ballard until his passing in 1984. Floss was also a native of Williamstown. He was a prominent businessman in Grant County, owning B.L. Ballard Gulf Oil Distributor for 14 years and B.L. Ballard Insurance Agency for 37 years before retiring in December 1983. He was also a member of the Williamstown Baptist Church. Dorothy and Floss had one daughter, Diane Ballard Parnes.

To honor her time at WKU and the memory of her late husband, Dorothy established the Dorothy and Braudis (Floss) Ballard Scholarship Fund in 1999. The fund serves to assist deserving WKU students in achieving their educational goals. Through this fund, the Ballards’ legacy continues in perpetuity.