Ball Family Remarks on 75th Anniversary of Beneficence
By Jud Fisher
It is an honor to be here today to represent my family for this historic occasion. As the president of the Ball Brothers Foundation and the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, this is a particularly meaningful day. Thank you to president Jo Ann Gora and her Ball State University team for putting on a birthday celebration recognizing the symbolism of this memorial.
Perhaps some of you don’t know the story of Beneficence: the Chamber of Commerce formed a committee in 1927 to find a way to thank the Ball family for its contributions to the greater community. In that year alone the family assisted greatly in the ground-breaking for Ball Memorial Hospital, the establishment of Lucina Hall, and philanthropic activity throughout Delaware County and beyond. The Chamber committee’s effort culminated in a famous sculptor’s beautiful interpretation of the family’s hard work and philanthropic ethos. One thing I’d like to highlight in the artist’s thought process is that he used a female as the center piece. He did this to express the fact that Mary Bingham Ball “urged her five sons to work together and not separate”. Mary’s charge to her sons made them a powerful force.
The family was humbled by the community’s grand gesture. The Ball’s were seen as competent, efficient and high achievers. Their work ethic and vision were mirrored by their employees, and their company was part of a thriving city. Their philanthropy, only possible because of their hard work, was known and emulated by many people.
What does this mean for us today as we reflect on the past, while also looking toward the future? Ball family members have continued to work with the community. Frank Bracken spoke at the fiftieth anniversary for Benny about the importance of the dedicated employees of Ball Corporation having a culture of excellence through team effort and team spirit. Beneficence embodies this culture and allows us to consider how we will utilize opportunities and confront challenges.
Along with Frank Bracken, my grandfather John W. Fisher and great uncle Edmund F. Ball carried the family torch decades after Benny was dedicated. They had simple sayings that held great meaning. My grandfather always said: “Ride hard, shoot straight, tell the truth, and be good to your fellow man”. Uncle Ed always said: “Leave your campsite in better condition than how you found it”.
Anyone can follow these principles. Many of you have these principles, instilled by your own family traditions and life experiences. Everyone has beneficence within them. We have the ability to bind hard work, partnerships and giving back to form a powerful driver for societal betterment. Benny continues to emit this philosophy of vocation and philanthropy through her ageless, beautiful and poised expression of gratitude and giving. To conclude, my message to you for this 75th anniversary is a simple one: be indispensable, work hard and care deeply.
Again, it’s an honor to be here today.
Now, it is my pleasure to introduce the 14th president of Ball State University, Jo Ann Gora, to speak to you more about this memorial and its significance to Ball State and the greater community.