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A memorial service is set for 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 31 in the First United Methodist Church Wesley Chapel, directly west of Goodrich Chapel.
 Kenneth Ballou, '47, a longtime Albion resident who had a successful 36-year career teaching biology at Albion College from 1949-85, passed away Monday, Oct. 26.
Among colleagues and students, Ballou was famous for his meticulous preparation for his comparative anatomy and microbiology courses, a commitment to teaching, and shepherding hundreds of students through the pre-medical studies program he helped found. He served in various leadership roles within the biology department and for 14 years was a faculty marshal for College ceremonial events.
Professor emeritus "Doc" Stowell, a biology department colleague, recalled a day when Ballou discovered one of professor Clara Dixon's snakes loose in his lab. "Ken saw the snake on a shelf and realized that if the students saw it, there would be pandemonium," said Stowell. "So Ken stood in front of the shelf and moved when the snake moved. The students never saw it and Ken never stopped lecturing."
Ballou with Bruce Henderson, 68 (left), and an unidentified student in lab
"I had far more difficulty with Ken's comparative anatomy class than I did in gross anatomy in medical school," said Bill Wadland, '69. "The demanding preparation at Albion under Ken's tutelage paid off, because I got one of the best grades in med school."
David Jones, '60, a retired pathologist and clinical researcher, recalled with gratitude that when he wanted to do a virology project, Ballou drove him to MSU, introduced him to a virologist, and even helped him euthanize dozens of chickens over the course of a semester, an activity that left Rob Hall reeking of ether for days afterward.
"I was a floundering pre-med student, and being with Ken on a daily basis changed my philosophy and view in so many positive ways," said Jones. "It was just a joy to be associated with Ken, and with his wife Polly, too."
His contributions to the Albion community were significant. Ballou was a charter member and two-time board president for the Albion Area Ambulance Service; in addition, he worked as a volunteer emergency medical technician, driver, and dispatcher for 25 years. Ballou served as assistant chair of the Albion Blood Bank for nine years, as president of the board of the Albion Exchange Club, and as vice president of the organizational board for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation grant in support of volunteerism in Albion. A member of Albion's First United Methodist Church for more than 50 years, Ballou had three terms as chair of its Board of Trustees, and was a superintendent of the church school. He also spent 13 summers as an officer with the Albion Police Department from 1953 to 1966.
For his community service, Ballou received numerous awards, including a Michigan Week Community Service Award, an Albion Minuteman Award, the Battle Creek Enquirer George Award for community service, and a certificate of appreciation from the Albion College Alumni Association.
Ballou earned both bachelor's and master's degrees from Albion College and did graduate work at Michigan State University. In 1983, he was awarded an honorary doctorate of science from Albion, and he received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the College in 2003.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clare and Jessie Ballou, step-father, Ira Buckner, and son, Kenneth C. Ballou, Jr. He is survived by his wife, Polly, daughter Ann, daughter-in-law Lyn, and grand-daughter Caitlin.
Please share you memories of Ken Ballou below.
» 17 Comments
17"Zoology"
at Friday, 20 November 2009 12:50
Dr. Ballou helped me to learn more about (and to love more deeply) the creatures of this planet.
16"Dr. Ballou\\\"
at Friday, 20 November 2009 12:43
I want to express my sincere condolence to the family of Dr Ballou. I can remember as as bright eye kid straight from Nigeria in 1974 and not very familiar with America and a whole lot of other things, Dr. Ballou took me under his wings and thought me basic study skills and helped refine my studing habits and thought me a lot about America. I always knew I want to be a physician, he was very helpful and encouraging at all times. He was very encouraging and the life and study skills developed with his assitance was later very useful to me in medical school and later in my adult life. I owed a lot to him and will always have fond memories of him. .My heartfelt and sincere sympathy to his family and loved ones.
15"Dr. Ballou"
at Sunday, 08 November 2009 19:07
I want to add my condolences to the family on the passing of Dr. Ballou. I will always have the fondest memories of him--and something that I have not seen mentioned thus far is his sense of humor. I will always remember that! I went on to get my Masters in Medical Technology--thanks in large part to his "training and teaching." We learned so much from him, which helped us to go on with our education! He was a wonderful teacher, and man!!
14"Mrs."
at Thursday, 05 November 2009 08:12
I was privileged to have been one of Ken Ballou's lab assistants all four years at Albion, 1958-1962. I, too, remember the smell of agar and operating the autoclave, and I also remember helping Dave Jones with his chicken project - not very pleasant! But mostly I remember helping Mr. Ballou teach his lab classes which I enjoyed immensely. That experience helped me greatly when teaching at Northwestern University's School of Nursing in Evanston, IL. Ken and Polly Ballou and their children Chip and Ann were my "family" away from home. He was an inspiring teacher and his legacy lives on. My heartfelt sympathy to Polly and her family.
13"Albion College '54"
at Friday, 30 October 2009 13:09
What a great example for all the pre-med students! I remember that Bacteriology at University of Michigan Medical School was a snap after the education in Bacteriology in Dr. Ballou's class at Albion. Many years later I was visited in my Flint office by this thoughtful man and was honored by his presence. I had no idea he would even remember me. I was lucky to be able to work as an assistant in his lab preparing petri dishes filled with hot agar. I have never forgotten the odor of that place. Dr. Ballou was a blessing to us all. My condolences to his friends and family.
Ron Smalley, MD (ret)
12Comment
at Friday, 30 October 2009 08:43
II want to pass along my condolences to Dr. Ballou's family. When I think back on my Albion College experience, Dr. Ballou's name comes to the top of the list. He had high expectations and he prepared us well for our future training and careers. He was my adviser and helped my get into medical school, liked he helped so many other students before and after me. I remember hearing stories about him from my father who also had him for classes a generation earlier.
11"'64"
at Friday, 30 October 2009 01:49
Being dyslexic - yet none of us knew that then - I knew I had difficulty taking tests. When as a freshman I tried to explain that to Ken Ballou, (went in to the test with an A, but flunked the test) he informed me that I must pass them to stay in school. He then spent an hour or more giving me pointers and telling me the best way to study and take tests. I never failed a test again and I will always be grateful that he showed such conern for a music major.
10Comment
at Thursday, 29 October 2009 18:48
Polly--My sincere sympathies and best wishes to you and your family on Ken's passing. I remember Ken as a very nice man. I still have some of your recipes in my mother, Mary's recipe box! --Sue (Bobbitt) Haas, in Seattle
9Comment
at Friday, 30 October 2009 08:43
I offer my warmest condolences to Dr. Ballou's family,friends, and former students. He was the BEST!
8Comment
at Thursday, 29 October 2009 17:39
Ken's influence on my studies as both a premedical student as well as a medical student are indelible. The old credo of "tough but fair" characterized Ken's professorial philosophy. If you studied and prepared, you had nothing to fear, but if you did not there was a significant price to pay in his classroom. This trained us all well , not only for medical school, but for life in general. i will be forever grateful for his leadership and mentoring..
7Comment
at Thursday, 29 October 2009 16:39
Ken Ballou was an excellent Professor. He expected our best work, which usually spurred me on to deliver just that. I am only one of hundreds of physicians who owe our start to his committment to our education and his patient guidance. I remain grateful for his effort.
6"Albion '79"
at Thursday, 29 October 2009 16:11
Ken Ballou was a terrific professor and, more importantly, a fine man and excelent role model for service and professionalism. I am one of a legion of pre-med students who found medical school easier because of the rigor learned in Ken's classroom. He touched many lives and leaves a sterling legacy at the college and in the community of Albion.
5"M.D."
at Thursday, 29 October 2009 16:35
Of the many wonderful and inspiring professors I had as a student at Albion from 1955 to 1959, Dr. Ballou has always stood out in my mind as the epitome of what a teacher and counselor should be. His concern for each individual under his tutelage and his desire that each perform to the best of their ability was a motivating force for me during my Albion years and beyond. I offer my condolences to his family and wish to let them know that their loss is shared by a multitude of others.
Dave Heaps '59
4Comment
at Thursday, 29 October 2009 16:34
Dr. Ballou was one of my best Prefessors at Albion. His comparative anatomy classes were some of the most demanding I took as an under grad. Somehow, he motivated me to get my best grades while at Albion. His calm demeanor and patience will never be forgotten. I worked under him at the Albion Ambulance service. He wrote a letter of recommendation for me to attend The University of Michigan School of Dentistry after only two years at Albion. Dr. Ballou was a great example in life for all Albion graduates. His talents and memories will endure through the lives he mentored.
3"Whitehouse NC, Past Direc"
at Thursday, 29 October 2009 15:28
I wish to offer my condolences on the passing of Ken. I work and got to know Ken in the early 80's when I was Director of the Whitehouse Nature Center. Ken taught me to "Give your all, you need some down time, you can't just give-give-give" I am still trying to take dayly down time, so I can give more to my students, as Ken.
May God's Blessings be on Ken and his family
Wil Reding
2"Professor"
at Thursday, 29 October 2009 15:05
I entered science education because of Dr. Ballou. He changed my life. I remember having to disregard the "potato chip" he added to the pile of trout skull bones we had to identify. I also remember coming late to an exam when I overslept on morning and wondering how Dr. Ballou would respond (knowing he had extremely high standards and expectations). He smiled and reminded me it happened to the best - and told me not to let it happen again. He will be missed, but live on through the many students like myself that he mentored along the way.
1"CHATURVEDI"
at Thursday, 29 October 2009 07:55
I wish to offer my condolences on the passing away of such a learned Professor, who has helped so many students in learning the science of Biology. There are so few dedicated teachers like him.
May god bring peace to the departed soul
Hari Rao
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