2011 Big Red Service Award
Dr. Ted Ball
Dr. Ted Ball
The 2011 Big Red Service Award is being presented to Theodore R. “Ted” Ball, M.D.
For 32 years, Ted served as team physician for the Bellevue Redmen football team. He began that duty in 1964 with Coach Lowell Shaffer, continuing with Coach Terry Adams from 1975-90, and concluding with Coach Ed Nasonti from 1991-96 when he “retired” from his duties.
Even more remarkable is the fact the Dr. Ted, from 1975-96, covered the team by himself and was always a fixture on the Redmen sidelines. From 1970-74 his brother, Dr. Jim Ball assisted as team physician and from 1964-69 a total of four physicians took turns covering the team.
Dr. Ted did not just stand on the sidelines each Friday night. He also attended each practice, all varsity games, most junior varsity and freshmen games, wrestling meets, most basketball and volleyball games, and nearly all the track and field meets through 1996.
In July of 1984, Dr. Ted was honored by the Ohio High School Athletic Association and the Subcommittee on Awards of the Joint Advisory Committee on Sports Medicine of the Ohio State Medical Association with the Outstanding Team Physician Award.
Dr. Ted was instrumental in changing pre-participation exams for sports from mass physicals in one room to one-on-one private exams for boys and girls in grades 8-12, and private doctor’s office exams for 7th graders. This was designed specifically to find that person in which sports is contra-indicated. To this day, Bellevue High School is one of the only schools to take this extra precaution.
Also, with the cooperation of coaches, Dr. Ted changed the attitude on hydration, allowing players unlimited fluids. He also began the weigh in, weigh out program for two-a-day practices, and because of this, no case of heat stroke or severe heat exhaustion has ever occurred at BHS.
Dr. Ted was also appointed to the Ohio State Medical Association Joint Advisory Committee on Sports Medicine for 10 years.
A native of Bellevue and a 1950 graduate of Bellevue High School, Dr. Ted completed his medical training at The Ohio State University College of Medicine in 1960 and his residency training at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown in 1963. He then established a general practice in Bellevue. To this day he continues to practice at Ball Medical Clinic and is on active staff of The Bellevue Hospital where he also served four terms as Chief of Staff.
He was inducted into the Bellevue High School Halls of Excellence in 1999, was given the Bellevue Area Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Service Award in 2002, and the Immaculate Conception School Distinguished Graduate Award in 2008.
He also continues to remain active with the Fremont Community Theater and the Bellevue Society for the Arts.
“Doc” Ball and his wife, Marte, reside in Bellevue. They are parents of four children, Julie, Ben, David, and John.
For 32 years, Ted served as team physician for the Bellevue Redmen football team. He began that duty in 1964 with Coach Lowell Shaffer, continuing with Coach Terry Adams from 1975-90, and concluding with Coach Ed Nasonti from 1991-96 when he “retired” from his duties.
Even more remarkable is the fact the Dr. Ted, from 1975-96, covered the team by himself and was always a fixture on the Redmen sidelines. From 1970-74 his brother, Dr. Jim Ball assisted as team physician and from 1964-69 a total of four physicians took turns covering the team.
Dr. Ted did not just stand on the sidelines each Friday night. He also attended each practice, all varsity games, most junior varsity and freshmen games, wrestling meets, most basketball and volleyball games, and nearly all the track and field meets through 1996.
In July of 1984, Dr. Ted was honored by the Ohio High School Athletic Association and the Subcommittee on Awards of the Joint Advisory Committee on Sports Medicine of the Ohio State Medical Association with the Outstanding Team Physician Award.
Dr. Ted was instrumental in changing pre-participation exams for sports from mass physicals in one room to one-on-one private exams for boys and girls in grades 8-12, and private doctor’s office exams for 7th graders. This was designed specifically to find that person in which sports is contra-indicated. To this day, Bellevue High School is one of the only schools to take this extra precaution.
Also, with the cooperation of coaches, Dr. Ted changed the attitude on hydration, allowing players unlimited fluids. He also began the weigh in, weigh out program for two-a-day practices, and because of this, no case of heat stroke or severe heat exhaustion has ever occurred at BHS.
Dr. Ted was also appointed to the Ohio State Medical Association Joint Advisory Committee on Sports Medicine for 10 years.
A native of Bellevue and a 1950 graduate of Bellevue High School, Dr. Ted completed his medical training at The Ohio State University College of Medicine in 1960 and his residency training at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown in 1963. He then established a general practice in Bellevue. To this day he continues to practice at Ball Medical Clinic and is on active staff of The Bellevue Hospital where he also served four terms as Chief of Staff.
He was inducted into the Bellevue High School Halls of Excellence in 1999, was given the Bellevue Area Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Service Award in 2002, and the Immaculate Conception School Distinguished Graduate Award in 2008.
He also continues to remain active with the Fremont Community Theater and the Bellevue Society for the Arts.
“Doc” Ball and his wife, Marte, reside in Bellevue. They are parents of four children, Julie, Ben, David, and John.