Harry Allen Ball, Columbia

Harry Allen Ball served the University of Missouri and Missouri dairy producers as herdsman and farm superintendent of the MU dairy farms from 1918 to 1959.

Harry was born on a farm near Curryville Aug. 28, 1889. He attended Hickman High School in Columbia, played football and graduated in 1910. While attending high school, he began working part-time for the University of Missouri in 1907 as an errand boy for Dean H.J. Waters.

In August 1908, he began milking for the Dairy Department and in 1910 milked Missouri Chief Josephine on the latter part of her world record lactation. Mr. Van Note, the herdsman was taken sick and Harry carried on as “Jo’s” milker.

In the summer of 1910 he went to Kansas to play baseball but returned to Missouri in the fall of 1911 to teach at the Rose School near Curryville for two years. He had attended Rose School during his grade school years.

Harry married Linnie Robertson in 1912. The Balls raised three children, Helen, Harry, and Dorothy Ann. All graduated from the University of Missouri.

He farmed for himself from 1913 to 1917 when he became superintendent of the Larkspur Dairy Company farms near Pevely. He returned to Columbia June 17, 1918 to become herdsman and farm superintendent of the University dairy herd.

The MU Milkman, published by the Dairy Club, dedicated its sixth edition – 1960 – to Harry Allen Ball writing:

“whose energetic and capable efforts have so well served the University of Missouri Dairy Department as herdsman and foreman for more than 41 consecutive years until his retirement Aug. 31, 1959. Harry, as he was generally known, won the respect and admiration of students, breeders, coworkers, and the faculty. We will long remember the kindness of Mr. Ball, his personal interest in students and the dependable services he gave to the Dairy Department of the University of Missouri.”

Prof. Harry A. Herman wrote in the history of the Dairy Department-MU Special Report 382, 1988:

“No history of the University of Missouri dairy herd would be complete without mention of Harry Ball, herdsman and farm superintendent from 1918 to 1959. Mr. Ball was a meticulous, dedicated man with his farm, and his herd records were always neat and complete.  He saw to it that the barn, the cattle, the pastures, and the cropping areas were kept clean and orderly at all times. Hundreds of students worked as part-time milkers, feeders, cleaners, and farm employees. He took much personal interest in students and aided many with fatherly advice. He will long be remembered for the kindness, dedication, and dependable service he gave the Dairy Department for more than 40 years.”

Harry’s son grew up on the dairy farm and had the opportunity to witness most of the major developments recorded in the dairy history. His special memories include:

• His dad’s strong belief that if you know how to work, you will never starve and the many “free experience only” hours donated to the farm were doing whatever was included in the day’s schedule.
• The integration of the 52 purebred Holsteins into the dairy herd in 1931, a gift of F.W.A. Vesper, owner of the Fredmar Farms, Jefferson Barracks.
• The gift in 1952 of the Foremost Guernsey Herd by J.C. Penney to the University. The Penney gift included 150 head of registered Guernseys, a farm, equipment, and the foundation fund of $250,000. The terms of the gift made it possible to purchase some 600 acres west of Columbia, erect the necessary buildings, and move the herd to Columbia.  Dad enjoyed his “shop talk” conversations with Mr. Penney.
• Dad’s appreciation of 1) the opportunity to participate in developing a world-class dairy farm operation and 2) the opportunity to observe, learn, and, in many cases, provide support services for the research of the distinguished faculty of the Department of Dairy Husbandry.

Mr. Ball died in 1967.